Anders Leonhard Zorn

Anders Leonhard Zorn , 1860-1920, Swedish painter, etcher, and sculptor. Zorn's early and phenomenal popularity was sustained throughout his career as a portrait painter of eminent persons in all fields. He was admired for the charm and freshness of his work, which also included genre and landscape subjects. He traveled throughout Europe and in 1903 visited the United States but he always returned to his native Mora, Sweden. Zorn's works are in many European and American collections; his Mora (Worcester, Mass., Art Mus.) is a fine example. Since his death, his virtuoso etching style has been esteemed more than his work in oils.

Bibliography: See studies by K. Asplund (1921) and E. M. Lang (1923).

Zorn, Anders (1860–1920). Swedish painter, etcher, and occasional sculptor, born at Mora. He studied at the Stockholm Academy, 1875–81, leaving because of its restrictive and out-dated ideas. For the next 15 years he lived mainly outside his own country, becoming the most cosmopolitan Scandinavian artist of his time and an international success. He was based in London (1882–5), then Paris (1888–96), and he visited Spain, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, and (on several occasions) the USA, where he painted three presidents and many other prominent figures. Originally he worked almost exclusively in watercolour, but in the late 1880s he abandoned the medium for oils (he began to use them seriously in the winter of 1887–8, when he stayed in St Ives). In 1896 he returned to Sweden and settled at Mora (although he continued to travel), building his own house, which is now a museum dedicated to him. Zorn's paintings were of three main types: portraits, genre scenes (often depicting the life and customs of the rural area in which he lived), and female nudes. It is for his nudes—unashamedly healthy and voluptuous works—that he is now best known. He often placed his figures in landscape settings and he delighted in showing vibrant effects of light on the human body, depicted through lush brushwork that recalls the handling of his friend Max Liebermann. Zorn also gained a great reputation as an etcher and he occasionally made sculpture, including one large work—the statue of Gustavus Vasa in Mora (1903). His work is well represented in the Zornmuseet at Mora and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. Between 1907 and 1914 he wrote some autobiographical notes, which were published in 1982.

Zorn, Anders (b Mora, 18 Feb. 1860; d Mora, 22 Aug. 1920). Swedish painter and etcher. After leaving the Stockholm Academy in 1881 because of its restrictive and outdated ideas, he travelled widely, becoming the most cosmopolitan Scandinavian artist of his time and an international success. He was based in London (1882–5), then Paris (1888–96), and visited Spain, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, and (on several occasions) the USA, where he painted three presidents. Originally he worked almost exclusively in watercolour, but in 1887–90 he abandoned the medium for oils. In 1896 he settled at his home town of Mora (although he continued to travel), building his own house, which is now a museum dedicated to him. He painted three main types of pictures: portraits, genre scenes (often depicting the life and customs of the area in which he lived), and female nudes. It is for his nudes—unashamedly healthy and voluptuous works—that he is now best known. He often painted them in landscape settings and delighted in vibrant effects of light on the human body, depicted through lush brushwork that recalls the handling of his friend Max Liebermann. Zorn also gained a great reputation for his etchings and he occasionally made sculpture, including one large work—the statue of Gustavus Vasa in Mora (1903).