Emma Rasmussen 1904

Anders Zorn made this etching, Emma Rasmussen, using black ink on paper. I can imagine Zorn, bent over the plate, carefully etching the delicate lines that form Emma’s face and the soft folds of her dress. There’s a sense of intimacy here, a quiet moment captured in ink. I wonder what Emma was thinking as she posed? Was she a friend, a lover, or simply a model? Look at the way Zorn uses hatching to create depth and shadow, especially in the background. It reminds me of some of Rembrandt's prints, that same attention to detail and the way he captures light. You can really see the push and pull of the engraver's tool, it's a physical and thoughtful process. Artists are always in conversation with one another, borrowing and building upon the ideas of those who came before. I love the thought that in some way, Zorn and Rembrandt are still speaking to us today through their art.