Nude

Nude, an undated watercolour in the Zorn Collections at Mora, belongs to the extensive series of nude studies that Zorn produced throughout his career as both private explorations and components of his larger compositional work. Nudes in watercolour presented particular challenges distinct from oil — the medium's transparency meant that mistakes in tonal construction were irreversible, and the rapid drying time required a systematic approach rather than the exploratory reworking possible in oil. Zorn's watercolour nudes are among the most technically accomplished in the European tradition, demonstrating his mastery of wet-on-wet technique, transparent layering, and the representation of wet or damp skin — a surface that absorbed and reflected light in ways that tested even the most experienced painter. The Zorn Collections' holding of undated nudes suggests these were kept in the studio for study rather than sale, part of the artist's lifelong investigation of the human figure as light-bearing form.

Watercolour on paper with Zorn's characteristic systematic approach: broad initial washes to establish shadow areas, overlaid with successive transparent glazes to build tonal depth. Reserved white paper provides the highlights, and final wet-on-wet marks define the form's contour without hard edges.