Anders Zorn

Sale: Bukowskis, Stockholm, 26 May 2009, lot 138
Peter Zobel (purchased at the above sale; Zobel (1936-2017) was a Danish businessman and landowner, and CEO of Codan, Denmark’s leading insurance company, founded in 1916. In 1996 he acquired Bækkeskov, a seventeenth-century manor house and estate near Præstø in South Zealand.)

Gerda Boëthius, Anders Zorn. Tecknaren, målaren, etsaren, skulptören, Stockholm, 1949, p. 516, cited; p. 554, listed

The canvas has not been lined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. A stretcher bar mark corresponding to the horizontal stretcher member is visible, along with some scattered lines of craquelure, notably in the upper half of the sitter's body. However, these appear to be stable. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals minor, intermittent strokes of retouching along the four extreme framing edges, and other areas of retouching including: - a circa 18 by 10cm area of strengthening in the grey background in the lower right quadrant and some areas and strokes of strengthening in the coat to the left - some of these retouchings have somewhat discoloured in time and are also visible to the naked eye upon close inspection; - other minor spots of retouching, possibly addressing some flaking, in the sitter's lower legs. Overall, this work presents well and is in good condition. Presented in a gilt frame. Colours are warmer than in the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Barely undressed, and with an elegant bow still in her hair, the artist's model is set to pose for the artist, whose painter’s smock - which he is seen wearing in Self Portrait with Model (fig.1) - frames the left side of the composition. She looks the viewer, in this case the artist himself, almost coyly in the eye. Her sense of anticipation is immediate and palpable. The subject also underscores the incredible breadth of modern society portrayed in Zorn's oeuvre: chameleon-like, he was as comfortable painting the humble model as he was famous artists and even American presidents. It has been claimed that Zorn's female nudes in outdoor settings are his most original contributions to Nordic art history. Of course, the majority of these works would all have been painted in his studio, with the outdoor setting added in. The present work - of a girl destined to be juxtaposed against an idealised rustic setting is here seen within in the undisguised environment of the the artist's studio - is not only unique within the artist's oeuvre but affords the viewer a fascinating glimpse into Zorn's working methods.