La Venus de la Vilette 1893

Anders Zorn created this print titled "La Venus de la Vilette." Zorn, who lived from 1860 to 1920, situated his artistic practice in a rapidly changing world shaped by industrialization and urbanization. This etching offers us an intimate glimpse into the space of a woman, challenging conventional representations of the female nude. The title refers to the figure as Venus, inviting a comparison to classical ideals of beauty, yet the woman’s presentation feels grounded and immediate. How does Zorn’s Venus both participate in and deviate from traditional artistic tropes? What does it mean to portray the female form with such directness? This piece encourages us to confront the complex interplay between the real and the ideal.