Figuren, waarvan enkele in klederdracht 1874

George Clausen sketched 'Figuren, waarvan enkele in klederdracht' using graphite on paper. The composition scatters several figures across the page, appearing almost as if they're floating in the white space. Clausen uses minimalist lines to define shapes and forms. These sparse lines give us just enough information to recognize human figures, some possibly in traditional clothing. The negative space is as crucial as the drawn lines; it defines the figures and creates a sense of openness and incompleteness, thus challenging the viewer's expectations of a finished artwork. Through these simple marks and empty spaces, Clausen engages with a structural interplay between presence and absence. Ultimately, this drawing exemplifies how even in a preliminary sketch, an artist can deconstruct traditional representation by reducing figures to their most basic elements.