Accompanying a major retrospective of Anders Zorn’s work, this is the first volume in English to explore the Swedish Impressionist’s entire career in depth. Anders Zorn (1860–1920) is one of Sweden’s most accomplished and beloved artists. Renowned for his light, expressive watercolors, he attained mastery of the genre at an early age and later applied his techniques to oil painting. Zorn is often compared with the artists John Singer Sargent and Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, contemporaries who also were known for their portraits of high-society figures. Taking up residence in London and then in Paris, Zorn established himself as an international portrait painter, depicting fashionable clients in a style both elegant and relaxed. He became a favorite among wealthy American collectors, bankers, and industrialists who sat for him, including art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner and three U.S. presidents. Although perhaps best known for his portraits, Zorn brought equal skill to painting genre scenes and views of nature. This handsome volume provides a thorough introduction to the artist and his works, from portraiture to landscapes and his famous nudes. Four illustrated essays are accompanied by a chronology, selected bibliography, an exhibition checklist, and an index.

Catalog of an exhibition held at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Feb. 28-May 13, 2013.

Anders Zorn's life and career are almost unparalleled in Swedish art history.

The Society achieved a powerful position once it gained the trusting eye of the public, enabling it to encourage styles and sway trends, which it did through exhibitions and economic return to its artists. How it dealt with pre-World War I opportunity and tremendous popularity in the twenties, and how it struggled through the Depression years reveal a remarkably resilient organization backed by effective leadership."--BOOK JACKET.