La Feria

Art Historical Context

**La Feria** (1889) by Swedish artist Anders Zorn captures the vibrant energy of a Spanish fair, a subject drawn from his travels in Spain during the late 1880s. Zorn, a master of light and movement, was already renowned for his realist portraits and genre scenes when he produced this etching. At just 13 × 9.2 cm, the intimate image exemplifies his ability to distill lively street scenes into precise, evocative compositions, blending everyday joy with atmospheric depth. As an etching on ivory laid paper, the work showcases Zorn's virtuoso technique in intaglio printmaking. He incised fine lines into a metal plate with acid, creating rich textures that mimic the bustle of crowds, fluttering fabrics, and dappled sunlight. The warm ivory paper enhances the luminous quality, a deliberate choice that heightens the festive mood, while the laid paper's subtle texture adds tactile authenticity—hallmarks of 19th-century fine printing. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, **La Feria** reflects Zorn's international appeal and his pivotal role in elevating etching as a painterly medium. It invites visitors to savor a fleeting moment of cultural revelry, bridging Scandinavian precision with Iberian exuberance.

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. ...