Anders Zorn

Anders Leonard Zorn established himself as the most internationally successful Swedish artist of his generation, recognized equally for his mastery across painting, sculpture, and particularly etching. His command of technique, especially the fluid, energetic application of oil paint and the decisive line work in his graphic arts, secured him commissions from the highest echelons of European and American society.

Zorn’s fame rested heavily on his penetrating portraiture. He possessed a remarkable ability to capture the essence and social standing of his sitters with swift precision. His subjects spanned royalty, including King Oscar II of Sweden, and a rare trio of American Presidents: Grover Cleveland, William H. Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt. This extraordinary run of presidential portraits cemented his status as a preferred chronicler of the powerful in the early twentieth century.

The collection of Anders Zorn prints and early drawings held in major institutions worldwide, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, provides insight into the breadth of his graphic endeavors. While renowned for his oil portraits, the artist dedicated significant effort to works on paper, ranging from intimate studies such as The Two and Head of a Girl, to culturally resonant images like Skerikulla. The double-sided nature of certain surviving pieces, such as Farewell Zorns (recto); Farewell Deerings (verso), offers a glimpse into his working process and social circle during his productive years.

Beyond his prolific output of Anders Zorn paintings and prints, he dedicated a portion of his earned wealth toward the perpetuation of Swedish culture. Near the end of his life in 1920, he founded the Swedish literary Bellman Prize, ensuring his legacy extended beyond the visual arts. Today, thanks to institutional preservation, much of his foundational work resides in the public domain, allowing enthusiasts and scholars access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork that attest to the vigor and technical brilliance of this international master.