Modelstudie. Skitse til P. S. Christiansens gravmæle 1930 - 1936

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch in preparation for a graveside monument with graphite on paper. It looks like he was trying to get a sense of the body, how it moves and occupies space, which is so hard to do! I can imagine him circling the model, trying to capture the essence of their form with just a few lines. The sketch feels alive with potential. Those lines, they're not just describing the figure, but almost creating it. It's like Stevns is feeling his way through the form, letting the graphite dance across the paper. You can feel the artist's hand moving, questioning, and refining. The quick, gestural lines remind me of other artists grappling with similar challenges, like Rodin in his quick sketches of dancers. They’re all part of this ongoing conversation, trying to capture the ephemeral, the fleeting moment of being. I wonder what you see when you look at this sketch? What does it make you feel?