A 1891 oil painting by Swedish artist Anders Zorn depicting figures by a lake. It features his characteristic loose brushwork and limited colour palette to capture light and water.

Anders Zorn painted Opal in 1891 during a period when he was increasingly interested in the effects of light on water and the human form. The composition features two figures positioned on a grassy bank overlooking a body of water. One figure is seen from the back in the foreground, while another is partially hidden by dense green foliage further up the slope. The water occupies the right half of the canvas, rendered with broad, horizontal strokes that suggest a calm surface reflecting the pale sky. Zorn used a limited palette for this work, a technique for which he became well known. The colours consist primarily of ochre, vermilion, ivory black, and lead white. By mixing these specific pigments, he achieved a wide range of flesh tones and natural greens without needing a broader selection of paints. The brushwork is loose and gestural, particularly in the rendering of the bushes and the shimmering water. This approach allows the viewer to perceive the movement of light rather than focusing on minute details. The painting is part of Zorn's larger body of work exploring the plein air tradition. He often depicted subjects in natural settings to capture the immediate sensation of a moment. In Opal, the interaction between the sunlight filtering through the leaves and the skin of the figures creates a sense of atmosphere. The title refers to the iridescent quality of the light on the water, which mimics the shifting colours of an opal gemstone. This work demonstrates Zorn's technical skill in handling oil paint to create a sense of depth and luminosity through simplified forms.