Studie af ænder 1881

This is Studie af ænder, or Study of Ducks, an undated pencil drawing by Niels Larsen Stevns. Born in Vaalse in 1864, Stevns grew up in a time of huge social change, witnessing the rise of industrialization and urbanization which shook traditional rural life. Look closely and you will see that this sketch is not just a depiction of ducks, but an intimate study of life in the countryside, a theme that Stevns returned to repeatedly. Ducks here are not merely objects of nature, but symbols of a life and identity rooted in the land. The detailed sketches highlight the artist's deep connection to his subjects. Stevns captures the essence of these creatures, their movements and their presence in the landscape. This connection to nature reflects the artist's emotional ties to his origins, and a desire to preserve a disappearing way of life in the face of modernity.