With Mother 1895

Anders Zorn made this oil painting, "With Mother," in 1888. The painting depicts a nude woman and child wading into the water. The muted color palette and loose brushstrokes place it within the artistic movement of Swedish Impressionism. Zorn was keen to portray Swedish culture and its people. Looking at this work, questions arise about the cultural norms in Sweden at the time. Were such displays of nudity common? Did that change across different social classes? The painting prompts us to consider the institutional frameworks that shaped artistic production at the time. What role did art academies and galleries play in shaping the reception of Zorn's work? Did they perpetuate conservative social values or offer spaces for challenging them? Further investigation into the social and economic conditions that shaped the art world in late 19th-century Sweden could offer more insights into the cultural work that this painting performs.