William Howard Taft 

Anders Zorn's oil painting presents a seated portrait of William Howard Taft, enveloped in a composed yet relaxed setting. The interplay of dark, muted tones against subtle highlights creates a visual structure that speaks volumes. Notice how Zorn uses broad, confident brushstrokes to define Taft's form, giving the composition a sense of immediacy. The light catches the planes of Taft's face and hands, drawing our focus. The background, rendered with a more fluid, less defined hand, pushes the portrait forward. The formal language of this painting reflects a moment of transition in portraiture. Zorn, straddling the line between traditional representation and modern painterly freedom, captures not just Taft's likeness but also something of his presence through form and composition. It invites us to consider how such elements can create a narrative beyond mere visual likeness.