Mona

Art Historical Context

Anders Zorn's *Mona* (1911) is a exquisite etching on ivory laid paper, measuring nearly 10 by 7 inches within its plate, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department. Created late in the career of this Swedish master (1860–1920), the work exemplifies Zorn's unparalleled skill in printmaking, where he transformed the meticulous intaglio process—biting lines into a metal plate with acid—into something as fluid and luminous as his renowned oil paintings. Zorn, a leading figure in late 19th- and early 20th-century Realism with Impressionist influences, was celebrated for his portraits of women, often capturing their grace and inner life with breathtaking subtlety. In *Mona*, the choice of warm ivory laid paper enhances the etching's velvety tones and subtle gradations, allowing light to dance across the surface much like in his watercolor studies. This technique made his prints highly sought after, bridging fine art and reproductive media. As a testament to Zorn's international acclaim—he exhibited widely in Europe and America—*Mona* invites visitors to appreciate the intimacy of portraiture in print form, where every line whispers personality and era, evoking the elegance of early 20th-century Sweden.

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. ...