Self-Portrait 1907

Curator: Here we have Anders Zorn’s “Self-Portrait,” a drawing completed in Mexico City in April of 1907. It’s a rather informal rendering of the artist. Editor: My first thought is that it feels incomplete, ghostly almost, like a memory fading. He’s there, but… barely. Curator: Indeed. The loose sketching certainly lends to that feeling. Notice how Zorn uses quick, confident strokes to capture his likeness, but leaves much to the imagination. It's more suggestive than declarative. Editor: It's interesting that the sketch shows him in what looks like a dressing gown. How does the casual depiction of this robe affect how we view both Zorn and his craft? I can’t help but consider what kind of labor would make this type of attire commonplace. Curator: That’s a compelling consideration. This domestic garb could intimate at artistic labour – a personal uniform almost. Perhaps it’s about capturing a sense of intimate artistic process. It is his 'Self-Portrait' after all. Editor: And he’s holding what appears to be a pipe? Curator: Likely. A common accoutrement of the time. The drawing feels intimate, personal... like he's inviting you into his private world. I wonder what he’s thinking, what’s occupying his thoughts in this particular moment. Editor: It raises the idea of luxury, doesn't it? Leisurely smoking materials and lounging attire speak to time not immediately preoccupied with survival, but with pleasure. Curator: Absolutely. It highlights Zorn's position, a moment of self-reflection captured on paper with such simplicity. Editor: Yes, simple though this drawing may be, the marks carry with them much more depth, gesturing toward issues surrounding identity, labor, and production beyond the artwork itself. Curator: I'm taking with me a renewed appreciation for how a quick sketch can hold such depth, it has an amazing capacity to prompt wider thought. Editor: I agree completely, and I like the way this specific sketch connects the labor and the material. It makes you think!