A Kitchen Maid 1919

Anders Zorn made this painting of a kitchen maid with oil on canvas. The painting is a symphony of whites, creams, and greys, dashed with rosy pinks on her cheeks. I can imagine Zorn, brush in hand, stepping back and forth, trying to capture the fleeting moment. I feel a connection with Zorn's attempt to translate a three-dimensional presence onto a flat surface. He’s working fast with a wet on wet technique. See how the white paint seems to both define and dissolve the form, blurring the lines between the figure and the space around her. Her white dress and cap are evoked through loose, confident strokes. The way the silver bucket shines is really great. Zorn is preoccupied with capturing the effects of light. Artists like Zorn, like me, engage in a constant conversation across time, inspiring and challenging one another, and exploring new ways to see and represent the world. Painting is an adventure, right?