girlfriends Anders Zorn (1860-1920)

This painting, titled Girlfriends, depicts two young women standing nude side-by-side, possibly at the edge of a body of water. They are positioned in the foreground, with tall reeds and grasses in front of them, and a natural, wooded background behind. The figures are rendered with soft, warm skin tones, and their short hair suggests a contemporary setting for the time it was painted. Their postures are relaxed yet posed, with their arms subtly held behind their backs or resting close to their bodies.

The painting evokes a sense of intimacy and natural beauty. The title Girlfriends suggests a close bond between the two women, and their shared nudity in a natural setting can be interpreted as a celebration of friendship, youthful innocence, and the unadorned human form. The natural backdrop of trees and water adds to the idyllic and serene atmosphere.

Possible subtexts include:

• Female friendship and solidarity: The title directly highlights their relationship, suggesting a bond of trust and shared experience. Their close proximity and natural ease with each other reinforce this.
• Naturalism and the ideal female form: The depiction of women in their natural state, nude and without artifice, aligns with certain artistic movements that sought to represent beauty and the human body in a realistic and sometimes idealized way.
• Freedom and liberation: The setting and their nudity could be seen as a symbol of freedom from societal constraints or a celebration of natural, uninhibited living, perhaps connected to concepts of a simpler, more harmonious existence with nature.
• Homosociality and subtle sensuality: While not explicitly sexual, the intimacy of the scene and the focus on the female form can invite contemplation on the spectrum of female relationships and their aesthetic appreciation, which may have held different connotations depending on the era and cultural context of its creation and viewing.

The overall impression is one of natural beauty, close companionship, and a tranquil embrace of the natural world.