Grover Cleveland I

Art Historical Context

In the Prints and Drawings department of the Institute of Chicago, Anders Zorn's *Grover Cleveland I*1899) captures the stern yet dignified likeness of the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms—Grover Cleveland, who left office in 1897. This intimate etching on ivory laid paper (image 22.6 × 17.8 cm; sheet 38.8 × 29.8 cm) showcases Zorn's skill in portraiture, rendering Cleveland's resolute gaze and textured features with remarkable precision during a time when presidential legacies were being etched into public memory. Swedish artist Anders Zorn (1860–1920), a master printmaker, elevated etching to new heights through his fluid, realist style influenced by Impressionism. Using a copper plate incised with acid-resistant ground, Zorn achieved velvety tones and subtle gradations that mimic oil painting's depth, making his prints highly sought after. His international renown led to commissions from luminaries like Cleveland, blending European technique with American iconography. This work exemplifies late 19th-century portrait etching's cultural role: preserving historical figures accessibly through multiples. Visitors will appreciate how Zorn's artistry humanizes a political giant, inviting reflection on leadership amid the Gilded Age's transitions.

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. ...