Portrait of Charles Deering 1893

Anders Zorn created this etching, “Portrait of Charles Deering,” in 1893. Zorn, a Swede, had become an international sensation by the late 19th century, painting portraits of the wealthy and powerful, often set in the intimacy of domestic life. Here, Charles Deering, a prominent American businessman and art collector, is captured with a relaxed informality. This was an era defined by industrial expansion, and the forging of new social hierarchies with wealth at the top. Look closely at the soft lines of Deering's face; it conveys a sense of ease and privilege. Zorn uses the etching needle to render the image of a man who would have been accustomed to having his portrait painted. Consider how Zorn, as an artist from Sweden, navigated the social circles of American industrialists. This etching is not just a likeness; it's a cultural artifact, reflecting the intersections of class, nationality, and artistic expression in a rapidly changing world.