Løse rids 1900 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made these 'Loose Sketches' in pencil, probably in a small notebook he kept close at hand. I think of drawing as a kind of thinking, a bodily process that unfolds through touch and movement. Here, Stevns seems to be exploring how simple lines can suggest complex forms. Look at the way the pencil strokes vary in pressure and direction, creating a sense of depth and volume. The lines aren't just outlines; they're like little paths that the eye can follow, leading us into and around the shapes. Notice the cluster of dense, scribbled lines near the top left – they almost look like a bird in flight, or maybe a fleeting thought. This approach to mark-making reminds me of Cy Twombly, another artist who embraced the messy, imperfect quality of the hand. Ultimately, these sketches show us that art is about the journey, not just the destination. It’s about the pleasure of exploration and the endless possibilities of the creative process.