A Kitchen Maid 1919

Anders Zorn painted "A Kitchen Maid" in 1913, although the medium used is unconfirmed, one can assume it was produced with oil paint. The marks are pretty loose and lively; Zorn wasn't trying to make it look photo-real. The limited palette is really interesting, mostly whites and grays with touches of pink in her cheeks. It’s this muted palette that gives the painting a sense of calm, yet also a feeling of intimacy. Take a look at the way he painted the metal bucket; you can almost feel the coolness of the metal. Then, notice the brushstrokes on her dress – they're so free and confident. It makes you think about the act of painting itself, the pleasure of just putting paint on canvas. Zorn’s style reminds me a bit of Sargent. Both had this incredible ability to capture light and form with such ease. Art's always about seeing what others have done, and then doing your own thing, right?