Englen vælter stenen fra graven 1933 - 1934

Niels Larsen Stevns made this drawing, ‘Englen vælter stenen fra graven’, with ink on graph paper. The grid gives a structure, but the dark hatching suggests something much more chaotic. Look at the top of the page, where the cross hatching is at its densest. The ink is layered and thick, creating a tangible sense of depth. The angel is all broken lines. There’s a real energy in the mark making; you can almost feel the artist’s hand moving quickly across the page. I think of Cy Twombly’s work. Although Twombly is more abstract, both artists share a love of gesture and an openness to chance. Both artists show that sometimes the most powerful art comes from embracing the imperfect and the unfinished. I love how Larsen Stevns embraces this ambiguity and allows the drawing to remain open to interpretation. It's a reminder that art is a process, not just a product.