Anders Zorn's "Värdinnans dotter" / "Spanjorska i svart mantilj"

To be sold at Important Spring Sale

Anders Zorn's watercolors from Spain form an indispensable part of his masterful artistry. Inspired by Egron Lundgren's watercolors, Zorn, at a young age, longed for a visit to the sun-drenched country of southern Europe. The goal was reached in September 1881 when Zorn arrived in Madrid with Ernst Josephson. At the end of September / October the friends were in Seville and in mid-November they reached Cádiz. This is where Zorn's watercolor paintings would develop to new heights.

The watercolor "Cousins" from January 1882 became Zorn's first international success. It was shown at the Paris Salon that year and the La Presse magazine reported that Zorn was "un aquarelliste de talent". New success came shortly thereafter with the next major work, "Mother Joy," where a young mother tenderly plays with her child.

The anecdotal character that surrounds these two works, however, occasionally had to stand aside for the close and direct study of beautiful Spanish women in traditional outfits. These motifs were of great importance for Zorn's artistic development. The Spanish models offered opportunities for variety and at the same time offered unlimited scope for fabric painting. Zorn loved the colorful airy Spanish textiles and the color complexes they formed together with the skin and dark eyes of the Spanish.