Tired Model 1890

Anders Zorn made this print, titled "Tired Model," using etching, a traditional printmaking technique. The image is created by drawing into a waxy ground on a metal plate, in this case most likely copper. Acid bites into the exposed lines, which are then inked to transfer the image onto paper. Notice the expressive, almost scratchy quality of the lines; the directness of the mark making gives the scene an intimate feel. Zorn was a master of this medium, using its potential for tonal variation to great effect. This wasn't industrial mass production, but a skilled, labor-intensive process. Zorn's engagement with etching places him within a lineage of artist-printmakers, like Rembrandt, who valued the medium for its unique artistic possibilities. By emphasizing process and materiality, we can appreciate how Zorn elevated what might be seen as a craft to the level of fine art.