Ida 1905

Anders Zorn made this etching, Ida, sometime around the turn of the century, using a network of fine lines to build form out of shadow. It’s all about the process, really, about seeing how far you can get with the barest minimum. And the atmosphere he creates is intense! The candlelight flickers, and Ida’s face is caught in a moment of surprise, or maybe fear. Zorn’s mark-making is so physical, you can almost feel the scratch of the needle on the plate. Look at how he uses these marks to build the texture of her dress, or the way the shadows pool around her feet. It’s this attention to detail that makes the piece so compelling. There's something of Edvard Munch in this, that same interest in interior states, and that same willingness to push the boundaries of the medium. Art is a conversation, right? Zorn is listening to the artists who came before him, and adding his own voice to the mix. And it’s up to us to keep that conversation going.