Waves Lapping 1887

Editor: So, this is Anders Zorn’s "Waves Lapping" from 1887. It looks like it's watercolor on paper and lives here at the SMK. It gives me such a calm, end-of-day kind of feeling, like twilight is settling over the water. How does this one strike you? Curator: Calm is a great way to put it! It's fascinating how Zorn captures the reflections – little shimmering poems dancing on the water’s surface. Do you notice how the colors shift depending on the light hitting the surface of the painting? Like watching a fleeting moment, nearly there and nearly gone, captured forever. The people on the pier? Just fleeting images in the grand composition. Makes me wonder, what were they talking about? Were they falling in love, trading secrets, lamenting old jokes? What do you imagine? Editor: Maybe planning a fishing trip. Though honestly, those colors make me think it’s more about quiet contemplation. It is watercolor though. Did Zorn often work with watercolor? Curator: Good eye! Although later in his career, he primarily used oils, he developed this unique approach with watercolors early on. It lends the whole scene an almost ethereal quality. He has these grounded, strong brushstrokes, with such vibrant colour contrasts. The water ripples, so present. Doesn’t it remind you how precious, fleeting, our lives are? It also embodies that late 19th-century artistic movement celebrating nature and everyday life. It is so light and gentle and optimistic. Editor: It’s like a captured breath of fresh air. I never really thought of Zorn's watercolor technique making this connection to water in such a tangible way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Next time you are near a pier at twilight, take a photo and send it to me, and we can make more art!