Head of a Young Woman Wearing a Hat n.d.

Anders Zorn created this drawing of a young woman's head at the turn of the 20th century, using graphite on paper. This is a traditional art material, but it's handled here in a quick, almost nonchalant manner. The texture of the paper is evident, giving the image a slightly rough, unfinished feel. Zorn's marks are direct and economical, a stark contrast to the highly detailed, academic drawings of the past. It feels modern, almost like a sketch dashed off in a café, capturing a fleeting impression rather than a carefully constructed portrait. This approach reflects the social context of the time, where rapid industrialization and urbanization led to a new emphasis on speed, efficiency, and the ephemeral nature of modern life. Zorn seems to embrace this new aesthetic, prioritizing immediacy and spontaneity over painstaking detail, challenging our traditional assumptions of fine art.