Vicke (Victor Andrén) - Anders Zorn

A 1918 etching by Swedish artist Anders Zorn depicting his friend Victor Andrén playing a lute. The portrait uses dramatic lighting and Zorn's signature hatching technique.

Anders Zorn produced this etching in 1918, two years before his death. The subject is his friend Victor Andrén, a Swedish painter and illustrator known by the nickname Vicke. Andrén is depicted playing a lute, with his head tilted back and eyes directed upwards. The composition relies on a dramatic light source that appears to originate from below the figure. This lighting creates heavy shadows across the face and torso, a technique reminiscent of Baroque portraiture. Zorn used a distinct method of etching characterised by vigorous, parallel hatching. Instead of cross-hatching to create depth, he often relied on the density and direction of single lines. In this print, the diagonal strokes across the instrument and the background create a sense of movement. The white of the paper serves as the primary light source, contrasting with the dense black ink of the shadows. The work captures a moment of musical absorption. The details of the lute, including the decorative sound hole, are suggested through precise line work rather than literal representation. Zorn was one of the most successful Swedish artists of his time, gaining international recognition for his ability to translate the qualities of oil painting into the medium of printmaking. This portrait of Vicke is a late example of his technical skill and his interest in capturing the character of his contemporaries.