Samuel Untermyer (1858–1940)

Samuel Untermyer was a prominent New York lawyer and progressive activist, and Zorn's 1901 portrait of him is preserved in the New York Historical Society. Untermyer was a significant public figure — he led congressional investigations into Wall Street practices and was involved in major antitrust cases that shaped early twentieth-century American jurisprudence. Zorn's portrait of him joins a series of important American public figures painted during his American tours, and the New York Historical Society's acquisition reflects its institutional interest in documenting New York's public life through commissioned portraiture.

Zorn's portrait of a man of strong will and public prominence likely emphasises the face's character — the determined expression, the direct or thoughtful gaze — while the formal elements of dress and setting support rather than dominate. His economical brushwork conveys authority and intelligence with remarkable efficiency.