J.B. Faure 1891

Anders Zorn made this etching, J.B. Faure, around the turn of the 20th century. Zorn was part of a generation of artists who sought to challenge the art establishment. Etchings like this one, were easily reproduced and distributed, representing a move away from the traditional, exclusive art world. Jean-Baptiste Faure was a celebrated opera singer and art collector. His image here seems to speak to a changing social structure; the rise of celebrity, the commodification of culture, and the blurring of lines between artist and patron. Zorn's loose, sketch-like style adds to the sense of immediacy and informality. To understand this work fully, scholars might consult sources such as period newspapers, exhibition catalogs, and letters between artists and patrons. These help us contextualize the image within the cultural and economic landscape of its time. Through such research, we come to see art as a product of its social moment.