Skitser af et kranium 1864 - 1941

Niels Larsen Stevns made these light pencil sketches of a skull, at an unknown date. I can imagine Stevns lightly moving his pencil over the paper, trying to capture the essence of the skull from different angles. Each stroke seems tentative, exploratory, as if he's feeling his way around the subject. There’s a real sense of intimacy here. It reminds me of how artists throughout history have grappled with themes of mortality and existence. These sketches are part of an ongoing conversation, not just with the subject matter, but also with other artists who have explored similar themes before him. It's like he's thinking through drawing. These sketches aren't about capturing a likeness, but about questioning what it means to exist, to contemplate our own mortality, and to find beauty in the transient nature of life.