Le Réveil

Art Historical Context

Anders Zorn's *Le Réveil* (The Awakening), created in 1891, is a delicate on ivory laid paper housed the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department. Measuring a modest 13.7 × 10 cm for the image, this intimate work exemplifies the Swedish artist's mastery during his rise to international fame in the late 19th century. Zorn, a virtuoso printmaker alongside his renown in painting and watercolor, captured fleeting moments of everyday life with remarkable sensitivity. Etching allowed Zorn to achieve painterly effects through intricate line work and tonal gradations, biting acid into a metal plate to produce rich textures that mimic soft light and form. *Le Réveil* reflects the fin-de-siècle fascination with naturalism and the female figure, evoking a private, tender scene of awakening. Zorn's technique—often blending etching with drypoint—revolutionized printmaking, making his editions highly sought after by collectors worldwide. This piece underscores the etching revival of the era, bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern expressiveness, and invites visitors to appreciate the subtle artistry possible in such a small scale.

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. ...