Studie af H. C. Ørsted. Notater 1930 - 1936

This is a sketchbook page with notations, and a graphite sketch, by Niels Larsen Stevns. The pencil strokes are so delicate, it feels like Stevns is barely touching the page. The drawing has an ethereal quality, as if capturing a fleeting thought or impression. The sketch is incomplete, not laboured over, so it expresses an intimate sense of the artist's process. I’m drawn to the way Stevns uses simple lines to suggest form and volume. See how a few strokes define the planes of the face, the set of the shoulders. It’s like he’s mapping out the essential structure of the subject, leaving space for our imagination to fill in the gaps. This reminds me of the early sketches of other artists, like Manet, who capture the essence of a subject with remarkable economy. It’s a testament to the power of suggestion, and the beauty of imperfection, reminding us that art is as much about the journey as the destination.