Spanish Woman 1884

Anders Zorn created this print of a Spanish Woman using etching techniques. Zorn was one of a growing number of European artists who looked to Spain as a land of cultural authenticity. Spain and its people were seen as relatively untouched by modernity in comparison with other European countries. Note the head covering. Such traditional clothing was seen as a marker of cultural identity. In many ways, this print encapsulates the complex relationship between modern Europe and its romanticized view of Spain. To understand Zorn's artistic choices, one can examine travel literature, photography, and other visual media that shaped perceptions of Spain during this period. We can then see how artists both reinforced and challenged these perceptions through their art. Ultimately, the meaning of art resides not just in the artwork itself, but also in the web of social, cultural, and institutional contexts that surround it.