DOI Heft:
No. 61 (April, 1898)
DOI Artikel:Laurin, Carl G.: A Swedish painter and etcher: Anders Zorn
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18391#0191
Anders Zorn
"IX THE OPEN AIR" FROM A PAINTING BY ANDERS ZORN
won the approval of the public, an unusual thing in which the chairman of the Stockholm club is
for an artist who, to such an extent as he does, brought to life in such a marvellous manner. It
follows the motto " L'art pour l'art." Without has been said that Zorn's pictures contain no
doubt this admiration is largely due to the fact mystique. They contain life, and this is a mystery,
that, from his first appearance abroad, he won a I will not speak of resemblance, which in this case
decided victory, and, with one stroke, came into is absolute ; but how astonishingly Zorn has shown
the front rank of European artists. An essential in the wrinkles around the eyes and in every detail
part of Zorn's productions consists of his portraits, of the face that just now a stream of fun is re-
They have nothing of the spiritual atmosphere freshing the hearers, among whom the face of
in which the types of Rembrandt or Watts live, Nordenskiold is visible behind the speaker,
no matter whether from the kitchen or the drawing- Dalecarlia and its powerful and original people,
room. its robust and hardy women, have been excellently
One does not think of eternity, of immortality, depicted by Zorn. The posing and simpering,
or of the soul. Zorn's pictures are perpetuated which so frequently find their way into delineations
moments, frequently of grand effect. He has, like of rustic life, are entirely banished from Zorn's
Velasquez, the mysterious faculty of imparting to peasant pictures. His country-folk do not go
a gesture something of imposing breadth—a sense about blaming the spectators for wearing top-hats;
of the actuality of the moment. Life consists of they do not preach with a kind of peasant-
a series of moments. Zorn has succeeded in Rousseauism about the morally purifying qualities
choosing from amongst all of them the most of country life. Zorn follows the merry Dalecarlian
precious, and has laid a fast hold on them. Thus, girls all the way to the Stockholm breweries, where
in his Effet de JVuit, which has been purchased by they are employed to rinse bottles, and he depicts
the Rirstenberg Gallery at Gothenburg—how the the reflections of the light on the wet brewery floor,
very movement here, to say nothing of all the effects and the bright colours in their clothes and their
of light and technical touches, gives an imposing jolly laughing faces. The dancing of the pea-
effect! Hut Zorn is also a master of characterisa- santry in the beautiful pale light of the mid-
tion. Look at his S/ca/ (li A Toast"), on page 163, summer night, the dressing of the peasant girls on
169
"IX THE OPEN AIR" FROM A PAINTING BY ANDERS ZORN
won the approval of the public, an unusual thing in which the chairman of the Stockholm club is
for an artist who, to such an extent as he does, brought to life in such a marvellous manner. It
follows the motto " L'art pour l'art." Without has been said that Zorn's pictures contain no
doubt this admiration is largely due to the fact mystique. They contain life, and this is a mystery,
that, from his first appearance abroad, he won a I will not speak of resemblance, which in this case
decided victory, and, with one stroke, came into is absolute ; but how astonishingly Zorn has shown
the front rank of European artists. An essential in the wrinkles around the eyes and in every detail
part of Zorn's productions consists of his portraits, of the face that just now a stream of fun is re-
They have nothing of the spiritual atmosphere freshing the hearers, among whom the face of
in which the types of Rembrandt or Watts live, Nordenskiold is visible behind the speaker,
no matter whether from the kitchen or the drawing- Dalecarlia and its powerful and original people,
room. its robust and hardy women, have been excellently
One does not think of eternity, of immortality, depicted by Zorn. The posing and simpering,
or of the soul. Zorn's pictures are perpetuated which so frequently find their way into delineations
moments, frequently of grand effect. He has, like of rustic life, are entirely banished from Zorn's
Velasquez, the mysterious faculty of imparting to peasant pictures. His country-folk do not go
a gesture something of imposing breadth—a sense about blaming the spectators for wearing top-hats;
of the actuality of the moment. Life consists of they do not preach with a kind of peasant-
a series of moments. Zorn has succeeded in Rousseauism about the morally purifying qualities
choosing from amongst all of them the most of country life. Zorn follows the merry Dalecarlian
precious, and has laid a fast hold on them. Thus, girls all the way to the Stockholm breweries, where
in his Effet de JVuit, which has been purchased by they are employed to rinse bottles, and he depicts
the Rirstenberg Gallery at Gothenburg—how the the reflections of the light on the wet brewery floor,
very movement here, to say nothing of all the effects and the bright colours in their clothes and their
of light and technical touches, gives an imposing jolly laughing faces. The dancing of the pea-
effect! Hut Zorn is also a master of characterisa- santry in the beautiful pale light of the mid-
tion. Look at his S/ca/ (li A Toast"), on page 163, summer night, the dressing of the peasant girls on
169