Anders Zorn

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter and etcher, known for his portraits, nudes, and genre paintings. He was born on February 18, 1860, in Mora, Sweden, to a wealthy brewer and his wife. His father, Leonard Zorn, was an amateur painter, and Anders showed an early interest in art, often sketching in his spare time. His mother, Emma, encouraged his talent and sent him to a local art school.

Zorn's childhood was filled with outdoor activities like hunting and fishing, which would later influence his art. He also had a keen interest in music and played the violin. Zorn's early works were heavily influenced by the naturalistic style of the French Barbizon School, which he discovered during a trip to Paris in 1881.

In 1885, Zorn married Emma Lamm, who would become his model and lifelong partner. They had a son, Bengt, and a daughter, Pia. Emma played an important role in Zorn's artistic career, managing his finances and exhibitions.

Zorn's travels took him to London, Paris, Spain, and the United States. He painted portraits of many notable people, including three U.S. Presidents: Grover Cleveland, William Howard Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt. He was also a friend of the American painter John Singer Sargent, who influenced his technique.

Zorn was known for his loose brushwork, use of light, and ability to capture a sense of spontaneity in his paintings. He often painted en plein air, or outdoors, and used a limited palette of warm earth tones. His etchings were also highly regarded and helped popularize the medium in the late 19th century.

Zorn's most famous works include:

1. "Sommarnöje" (Summer Pleasure), 1886 - a painting of a group of nude swimmers in a Swedish lake.

2. "Mrs. Walter Bacon" (1897) - a portrait of an American socialite and philanthropist.

3. "Isabella Stewart Gardner in Venice" (1894) - a portrait of the American art collector in a gondola.

4. "Midsummer Dance" (1897) - a painting of young people dancing around a maypole.

5. "Anders Zorn and His Wife Emma at Dalarö" (1906) - a self-portrait of the artist and his wife on a boat.

Anders Zorn passed away on August 22, 1920, at the age of 60. His legacy lives on as one of the most important Swedish artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his works can be found in museums and private collections around the world.