The Large Brewery 1890

Anders Zorn made this etching of a brewery in Stockholm with ink on paper. Zorn has employed the labor-intensive practice of etching to depict labor. To create the image, Zorn would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drawn into it with a sharp needle, and then dipped the plate in acid. The longer the plate is exposed to the acid, the deeper the lines, and the darker they appear when inked and printed. The final print rewards close looking, inviting us to decipher the artist’s gestures. The tonal gradations and intricate details evoke the atmosphere of this industrial space, and capture the essence of a bustling brewery, and the workers that animated it. In this period of industrial expansion, printmaking played a crucial role in documenting and disseminating images of working-class life. Zorn's choice of this medium underscores its democratic potential, making art accessible to a wider audience. The artist elevates the subject of labor, inviting viewers to appreciate the cultural significance of industry.