Self-Portrait
Anders Zorn, 1916
About this artwork
In 1916, Swedish artist Anders Zorn crafted this striking self-portrait etching at age 56, near the pinnacle of his illustrious career. Renowned internationally as a portraitist, Zorn had captivated elites in France, England and America with vivid depictions of presidents, industrialists, and socialites This third and final state of the print his direct, self-assured gaze, reflecting the confidence of a master who had honed printmaking for over three decades. The etching draws from Zorn's 1915 oil of himself in wolfskin fur, evoking's rugged northern landscapes and cultural traditions. Through meticulous techniques—successive biting of the copper plate, intricate crosshatching for tonal depth, and strategic wiping—Zorn achieved painterly subtlety and atmospheric richness rivaling his oils. Catalogued as Asplund 270, it showcases his technical brilliance and psychological insight, making his prints coveted by collectors. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Prints collection, this work embodies Zorn's lifelong fascination with self-portraiture, blending virtuoso skill with personal identity at career's end.