The Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden 1914

Anders Zorn created this print of Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, using etching in 1914. Etching is an printmaking process that uses acid to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in the metal. In this instance Zorn would have covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, upon which he would draw his image of Crown Princess Margaret. The exposed lines would then have been bitten by acid, creating the recessed lines that would hold ink. The fine lines achieved through this method give the portrait a delicate, almost ethereal quality. Look closely and you can see the details of the Princess's dress and the soft shadows on her face. This piece reflects not only Zorn's skill as an etcher, but also the social context of his time, capturing a moment of intimacy with a member of the Swedish royal family. It invites us to appreciate the artistry in the making, blurring the boundaries between fine art and the skilled trades.