Artwork
Emma Rasmussen
Emma Rasmussen is an ink print by Anders Zorn. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Anders Zorn’s 1904 print titled “Emma Rasmussen” is executed as an etching on Van der Ley laid paper. The work presents a solitary female figure, rendered in profile with her shoulders turned slightly toward the viewer. The composition is confined to the head and upper torso, emphasizing the sitter’s facial features and the line of her high‑collared garment.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a woman whose hair is gathered back, exposing the contours of her neck and the delicate shading around her jaw. The profile pose, combined with the modest attire, suggests a quiet, introspective presence, inviting contemplation of the individual’s identity without overt narrative detail.
Technique & Style
Zorn employed a combination of etching and dry‑point on a metal plate, allowing both fine incised lines and broader, scratchy marks to coexist. The contrast of dark and light strokes creates a sense of depth, while the use of aquatint‑like tonal shading around the hair and collar adds atmospheric richness to the otherwise linear drawing.
History & Provenance
Created in the early twentieth century, the print forms part of Zorn’s broader exploration of portraiture through printmaking. It was produced on Van der Ley laid paper, a high‑quality support favored by the artist for its smooth surface, and has since been catalogued among his limited‑edition works, remaining in private collections and occasional museum exhibitions.
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.
