Oil painting ->List of Painters -> Anders-Zorn
EARLY DAYS:
Anders-Zorn (1860 ? 1920) was a Swedish painter, sculptor and printmaker who is most famous for his portraits. He was one of the most acclaimed Swedish artists of his time and is known for his watercolours and for the use of colour and light in his oil paintings.
Zorn was born in Mora, Dalarna, and studied painting in Stockholm and Paris. He became a student of Bouguereau and Carolus-Duran and eventually became a master of his own style, which blended elements of traditional Swedish painting with the techniques of French Impressionism.
Zorn's most famous works are his portraits, which are characterized by their attention to detail and use of colour and light. He often used a technique called glazing, where the colours were layered over each other to create a sense of depth and luminosity. He also used a technique called scumbling, which involved layering thin layers of paint over a dry base layer to create a soft, textured effect.
One of Zorn's most famous paintings is his portrait of Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, completed in 1887. This painting is a prime example of his use of colour and light and displays his mastery of the glazing technique. The painting is composed of concentric circles of colour and light, with Lind's face at the centre. Zorn's use of light is particularly effective in this painting, with the yellow and white highlights on Lind's face creating an almost three dimensional effect.
Another of Zorn's most famous works is his painting of his wife, Emma Lamm, completed in 1889. This painting, which is in the collection of the National Museum of Sweden, is a portrait of Emma in a seated position, with her hands resting on her lap. The painting is characterized by its vibrant and vivid colours, which Zorn achieved through his use of glazing and scumbling. The painting is also notable for its use of light, with yellow and white highlights illuminating Emma's face, hair and clothing.
Zorn's other works include many landscape paintings, which often depicted the landscape of his native Sweden. His works also include many nude paintings, which featured models in classical poses. Zorn's paintings often featured the use of light and colour and were often characterized by their attention to detail and realistic style.
Zorn's works are now held in many museums around the world, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and the Uffizi in Florence. He is remembered as one of the most important Swedish painters of his time and his works continue to be admired today.
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Personal Details
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CAREER:
Anders-Zorn was strongly influenced by the French Impressionist painters and he developed a unique style that combined the realism of the French with the detail of the Dutch Masters. He focused mainly on portraits and landscapes, and he became one of the most sought-after portrait painters of his time. He also painted some nude studies, which were controversial at the time.
Zorn's work achieved international acclaim and he was honored with several awards and medals throughout his career. In 1895, he was made a knight of the French Legion of Honor. In 1901, he was awarded the Order of the Polar Star, the highest honor given to a civilian in Sweden.
In addition to painting, Zorn was a master printmaker. He was one of the first artists to use a technique called mezzotint, which uses a specific kind of burin to create areas of dark and light. He used this technique to create several remarkable prints of his most famous paintings.
Zorn was also an accomplished sculptor. He created a series of bronze busts of famous people, including the Swedish king Gustav V and the American composer John Philip Sousa. He also created a series of monumental sculptures for the City Hall in Stockholm.
Zorn's most famous painting, Midsummer Dance, was completed in 1890 and is one of the most iconic works of late 19th century art. The painting depicts a group of Swedish peasants dancing in a meadow and is notable for its vibrant colors and dynamic composition. It is currently housed in the National Museum in Stockholm.
Another famous painting, Fisher Girls on the Shore, was completed in 1894 and is a masterful example of his use of light and shadow. It depicts two Swedish fisher girls sitting on a rock on the shore of a lake. The painting is currently housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Anders Zorn was one of the most influential painters of the late 19th century. His paintings and prints are still highly sought after, and his legacy is still celebrated today. His works are a testament to his skills as an artist and his commitment to capturing the beauty of the Swedish landscape.
WORKS OF ANDERS ZORN: