The Waltz 1891

Anders Zorn created the etching *The Waltz* depicting a couple mid-dance in what appears to be a crowded ballroom. Zorn was a prominent figure in the Swedish art scene, often celebrated for his depictions of Swedish life and culture. However, he also spent significant time abroad, particularly in Paris, where he was influenced by Impressionism. The setting of a ballroom, typically a space of social ritual and performance, here it also hints at the dynamics of courtship and social expectations placed on women in the late 19th century. *The Waltz* captures a moment of intimacy but also one of display. Consider the gaze of other figures looking on, as well as the woman, partially turned away, and seems caught between the dance and an awareness of being observed. Zorn’s style with the immediacy of his mark-making, infuses the scene with a sense of life and energy, yet, it also obscures details. It invites us to reflect on the tension between personal experience and social expectations.