Head of a Woman (en Face)

Anders Zorn's "Head of a Woman (en Face)" (1907) is a graphite study focusing on the female face in direct frontal view. Drawing the face en face (full front) is a particular challenge in portraiture because it lacks the foreshortening and angle that can make a three-quarter view more dynamic. The full-face view is confrontational, intimate, and demands absolute accuracy in the symmetrical arrangement of features. Zorn's response to this challenge is characteristically masterful. The features are rendered with delicate graphite strokes that model the forms without the need for heavy shading. The eyes, nose, and mouth are each drawn with the economy that defines Zorn's mature drawing style. The year 1907 was one of Zorn's most productive periods, and his portraits from this year show an artist at the peak of his confidence. This drawing may have been a study for a commissioned portrait, or it may have been a personal work, drawn from a model or family member.

Zorn's graphite portrait studies demonstrate the foundation of his art: the ability to capture character and presence through the simplest means, reducing the complexity of the human face to essential lines and tones.

This frontal portrait study showcases Zorn's supremely confident draftsmanship, every line placed with the certainty that comes from decades of close observation and relentless practice.