In Scotland (Mrs. Symons) - Anders Zorn

A masterly 1887 watercolour by Anders Zorn depicting Mrs. Symons in a Scottish setting. The work captures a quiet moment of leisure by a riverbank with fluid brushwork.

Anders Zorn painted this watercolour during a visit to Scotland in 1887. The subject is Mrs. Symons, the wife of his host. She sits in a wicker chair beneath the overhanging branches of a large tree. Her attire consists of a dark, pinstriped dress with a white bodice. The composition places her in the foreground, while a male figure, presumably her husband, reclines near the riverbank in the middle distance. Zorn was a master of the watercolour medium during this stage of his career. He used a limited palette to create a sense of light and atmosphere. The water in the background is rendered with rapid, horizontal strokes that suggest movement and reflection. The foliage above is handled with broader washes and darker tones, providing a natural frame for the sitter. The work demonstrates Zorn's ability to capture a candid moment with technical precision. He avoids stiff, formal posing in favour of a relaxed outdoor setting. The textures of the wicker chair, the fabric of the dress, and the dry grass in the foreground are all described through varied brushwork. This piece is a significant example of Zorn's international travels and his skill in portraying the leisure activities of the nineteenth-century upper class.