August Strindberg
1910
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 28.9 × 18.9 cm (11 7/16 × 7 1/2 in.); Plate: 29.8 × 19.9 cm (11 3/4 × 7 7/8 in.); Sheet: 43 × 34 cm (16 15/16 × 13 7/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55284
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold Anders Zorn's striking 191 etching *August Strind*, a masterful portrait housed in the Institute of Chicago's Prints and department. Captured on laid paper—its subtle enhancing the print's luminosity work measures nearly 29 across, showcasing the intimate typical of fine etchings., a leading Swedish artist of his era, immortalizes the renowned playwright August Strindberg a direct gaze that conveys depth and character. Zorn's etching technique shines here: using a copper plate etched with acid, he achieved velvety tones and intricate lines that mimic the fluidity of his famed paintings and watercolors. Renowned for his realist style infused with impressionistic light effects, Zorn elevated printmaking to rival oil portraits, producing over 130 etchings celebrated for their psychological insight and technical bravura. Created just two years before Strindberg's death in 1912, this piece bridges Sweden's vibrant literary and artistic worlds. It not only honors a cultural icon but exemplifies early 20th-century print innovation, inviting visitors to ponder the interplay of line, shadow, and human spirit.
About the Artist
Anders Zorn · 1860–1920
Anders Zorn (1860–1920), one of Sweden's most celebrated artists, was born on February 18 in Utmeland near Mora in Dalarna, and raised on his maternal grandparents' farm in the nearby hamlet of Yvraden. Displaying prodigious talent from a young age, he attended school in Mora Strand until age twelve, followed by secondary grammar school in Enköping, where he excelled in drawing people and horses. ...