Professor John Berg 1912

Anders Zorn created this print, "Professor John Berg," now at the Art Institute of Chicago, using etching techniques to produce a delicate portrait. The composition, encased within a rectangular frame on the page, is dominated by the sitter's face and beard, rendered with a remarkable economy of line. Zorn's approach here is fascinating because he uses the graphic medium to explore the play of light and shadow, modeling form through a network of hatched lines. The density and direction of these lines define the contours of Berg's face, giving volume and texture. What’s striking is how the image flattens and destabilizes our conventional understanding of depth. Consider the way the background merges with the figure, challenging a fixed meaning. Zorn's command over the medium allowed him to create an image that engages with broader artistic concerns about representation. It also pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture, inviting us to see the subject not just as a likeness, but as a study in form and light.