Skitser af overkrop 1900 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of torsos with graphite on paper, the dimensions of which measure 175 by 110 millimetres. Notice the almost frantic energy in Stevns' marks. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of volume and depth. What stands out is how the anatomical studies are positioned on the page, with one torso floating above the other. This arrangement disrupts a conventional, grounded perspective. The lines feel tentative, searching, as though the artist is working to reconcile the ideal form with the imperfect reality of the human body. Thinkers like Saussure proposed that meaning is relational rather than inherent; Stevns’ sketches embodies this concept. Each line gains meaning not in isolation but in relation to other lines. This suggests a dialogue between the artist and his subject, each mark altering the next. This ongoing process of questioning and refining is what lends the sketch its dynamism. Ultimately, it remains open-ended, inviting viewers to participate in the act of interpretation.