Carl Snoilsky 1888

This is Anders Zorn's etching of Carl Snoilsky. The late 19th century witnessed a surge in portraiture, reflecting an increasing interest in individual identity and social status. Zorn, a celebrated Swedish artist, skillfully captures Snoilsky, a prominent Swedish poet. The etching technique itself, with its delicate lines and nuanced shading, mirrors the intricacy of character that artists sought to convey. Zorn often navigated the complexities of class and cultural identity. His own rise from humble beginnings informed his engagement with portraiture as a means of immortalizing individuals of societal influence. While Zorn was known for depicting women from various social strata, including nudes in natural settings, his portraits of men often emphasized their professional or intellectual stature. Consider how Zorn's composition invites us to contemplate the relationship between public persona and private self, all through the lens of class and cultural identity.