Skitse af romersk soldat 1905 - 1907

This is Niels Larsen Stevns' "Skitse af romersk soldat," or "Sketch of a Roman Soldier," probably made with ink on paper. It’s like seeing the ghost of an idea, hovering on the page. What strikes me is how Stevns uses line—look at the soldier’s drapery, all these quick flicks and curves that suggest form without really defining it. It’s the art of suggestion, isn’t it? The sword hanging at his side is just a few dark strokes, but your mind fills in the rest. Notice how the lines thicken and thin, giving weight and shadow with incredible economy. Think about the grid underneath—it’s like the artist is acknowledging the structure, the support, even as he lets his imagination roam free. This work reminds me of other sketches of figures I've seen by Picasso. Ultimately, this sketch is less about historical accuracy and more about the act of seeing, the joy of making marks.