Artwork
Carl Larsson
Carl Larsson is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Anders Zorn. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The hair and beard are made of quick, jagged strokes, while the hands look more solid but still rough.
This sketch shows a man’s face and hands resting on a table. The lines are loose and scratchy, almost like scribbles. The hair and beard are made of quick, jagged strokes, while the hands look more solid but still rough.
The paper has a textured, aged look, like it’s been handled a lot. The artist signed it in the corner with the date *1897*.
If you like this style, check out etching to see how artists create these kinds of prints.
Overview
Anders Zorn’s 1897 etching titled “Carl Larsson” presents a solitary male figure seated at a table. Executed on laid paper, the work is signed in the lower corner with the date of its creation. The composition captures a moment of quiet contemplation, rendered in a sketch‑like manner that emphasizes gesture over detail.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on the sitter’s visage and hands, which rest lightly upon the tabletop. The expression is subdued, while the hands convey a sense of stillness, suggesting a pause in work or thought. The informal rendering invites viewers to consider the intimacy of a private, unguarded instant.
Technique & Style
Zorn employs a loose, almost scribal line to define the facial features and beard, using jagged strokes that contrast with the comparatively denser rendering of the hands. The etched lines vary in depth, creating a textured surface that mimics the tactile quality of the paper, which itself shows signs of wear and handling.
History & Provenance
Created in 1897, the etching bears Zorn’s signature and date, confirming its authenticity. While specific ownership records are limited, the work exemplifies Zorn’s interest in portraiture and his experimentation with etching as a medium during the late nineteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anders Leonard Zorn was born in February 1860 in Mora, Dalarna, the illegitimate son of a Bavarian brewer and a Swedish farmer's daughter; his mother died shortly after his birth, and his grandparents raised him.
