Balance

Art Historical Context

Anders Zorn's *Balance* (1919) is a masterful etching capturing the graceful form of a female nude a poised, equilibrium-defying stance. Created in the final year of the Swedish artist's life—he passed away in 1920—this intimate print measures just 6½ × 4⅝ inches on the plate, inviting close contemplation of its delicate lines and textures. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it was generously gifted by Edna H. Sachs in 1964, preserving Zorn's legacy for modern viewers. Zorn, a virtuoso printmaker renowned for his Impressionist-inflected Realism, excelled in etching nudes that celebrated the human body's luminosity and vitality. This "only state" edition—meaning no revisions were made—highlights his technical precision: fine aquatint and drypoint techniques render skin with velvety softness and shimmering highlights, evoking the play of light on flesh. The title *Balance* likely nods to the model's dynamic pose, embodying harmony and tension in a single, fluid composition. As one of Zorn's late works, *Balance* reflects his lifelong fascination with the female form, drawn from life models in his Mora studio. Its cultural resonance lies in bridging 19th-century academic traditions with modernist intimacy, making it a gem for print enthusiasts exploring the sensuous artistry of early 20th-century Europe.

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. ...