
Swedish painter Anders Zorn (1860-1920) became one of the most sought-after Impressionist portrait artists in Europe and America. Born in Mora, in the Dalarna region of Sweden, he grew up in humble circumstances on a small farm raised by his mother and grandparents. His talent showed early: at 15, he gained admission to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. Zorn built his reputation painting watercolor portraits in London during the early 1880s, where he also learned etching from Axel Herman Haig. By 1887, he'd switched firmly to oils, developing a sure-handed approach to color and tone that made his portraits feel alive. His work earned him both a first-class medal and the Legion of Honor at the 1889 Paris World's Fair.
Zorn's portrait commissions took him to the highest levels of society. He painted King Oscar II of Sweden and three American presidents: Grover Cleveland, William H. Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt. In Paris, critics compared him favorably to John Singer Sargent as a chronicler of glittering high society. Beyond portraits, Zorn produced remarkable etchings, with 289 documented works showing his mastery of dramatic light and shade. He created an unorthodox, impressionistic style using squalls of lines that became instantly recognizable. After working abroad for years, Zorn returned to Mora in 1896 and built Zorngården, his residence and studio, completed in 1910. He and his wife Emma donated their entire estate to the Swedish State after his death. Today, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm holds many of his important works, with additional pieces at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d'Orsay.
8 paintings catalogued with museum locations
2 museums display Zorn's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
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Browse CollectionStockholm, Sweden
3 works on display