Dal River 1919

Editor: This drawing is called *Dal River*, created in 1919 by Anders Zorn. It looks like it’s made with pencil. It depicts a lone female figure by the water. I am struck by how private and vulnerable she seems. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The figure, the *bather*, has appeared across millennia of art and symbolizes purity, the ritual cleansing. But what resonates with me is the inherent symbolism of water – life, rebirth, the unconscious. Zorn's choice to depict this woman near the Dal River connects her to a very specific cultural landscape, to the deep well of Swedish folklore and tradition. Do you see how the river itself is rendered? Editor: Yes, it's very gestural, almost abstract. It gives the impression of movement and life, I see what you mean by "life." So you think that the setting and subject point towards Swedish folklore? Curator: I would ask you, beyond the visible landscape: what unspoken narratives might Zorn be tapping into? Consider the emotional landscape, the collective memory associated with this river, with Sweden. Zorn created his reputation and identity, often celebrating Swedish rural life. Do you think he succeeded here? Editor: I think so, yes. The woman’s gaze is downward, which gives me the sense of solitude, perhaps. I think that Zorn created something that appears rooted and natural. I now recognize how water acts as both subject and symbol here. Curator: And symbols act as a container, inviting cultural continuity, something inherited to activate further. Editor: I understand that now. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Art reveals culture, just as we reveal art.