Udkast til "Den barmhjertige Samaritaner" 1937 - 1938

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch for "The Good Samaritan" with graphite on paper. You can see how the artist is working out his ideas, figuring out the weight and form of the figures. It's like watching someone think through drawing. The scratchy lines aren't about perfection; they're about searching, about trying to capture a feeling or a gesture. Notice the way the figures are rendered with such simple, quick marks. There is a real sense of movement, even though it's just a sketch. I love the energy in this drawing. It reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's drawings—that same rawness and emotional intensity. You can see how one artist might have learned from another, each adding their own voice to an ongoing conversation. And it all comes from those simple marks on paper.