The artwork titled “Sappho,” created by Anders Zorn in 1917, is an etching on paper, measuring 20.5 x 18 cm. As a genre painting belonging to the Realism art movement, it captures a scene or subject from everyday life with a high degree of detail and truth to real-world appearances.
This particular etching depicts a scene of intimate companionship that includes a seated woman and a dog beside her on what appears to be a rocky shore. Based on the style and texture, the lines are finely etched, suggesting the painstaking detail that the artist would have employed in creating this piece. The woman’s form is rendered with delicate shading, emphasizing her physical contours and the softness of her expression as she interacts with the canine companion. The dog’s fur texture contrasts with the smoother skin of the woman, allowing the two figures to stand out against the background.
The background itself features the patterned surface of the water, which can be discerned behind them, providing a sense of depth and context to the scene, highlighting the tranquility of the setting. The artist’s choice of composition, with the figures set to one side, allows the open expanse of the water to balance the overall image and adds to the serene mood. The artwork’s title suggests a reference to the ancient Greek poet Sappho, known for her lyric poetry, often associated with expressions of affection and desire, although the direct link to Sappho’s history or literature is not necessarily apparent from the scene itself.
