Model at Shore 1912

Anders Zorn painted this, Model at Shore, with oil on canvas, though we don't know exactly when. Look at the way Zorn uses these luscious strokes of paint to capture the light filtering through the trees. For him, art-making seems like an act of pure, unadulterated looking. I'm drawn to the physicality of this painting. Zorn isn't shy about letting the paint do its thing. He's more interested in the texture, the color, and the surface itself. Look at the lower part of the canvas, the sandy bank. See those bold, confident strokes, they're not trying to trick you into thinking its sand, they're celebrating the act of painting. I notice how the model's skin seems to almost glow against the muted greens and browns of the surrounding landscape. Her form is rendered with such fluidity, almost like she’s emerging from the very earth itself. Zorn reminds me a little of Sargent, both these guys could really use a brush. But while Sargent has that high-society polish, Zorn feels a little more down-to-earth, maybe because he seems less concerned with perfection and more interested in capturing a fleeting moment.