Studier af ægyptiske statuehoveder 1900 - 1905

These Egyptian head studies by Niels Larsen Stevns were made in pencil, probably in a sketchbook, sometime in his lifetime. The softness of the pencil creates a light and airy feel, almost like a memory fading in and out. Look at the lower head, how the artist uses quick, scribbled lines to suggest the planes of the face. It's like he's feeling his way around the form, letting the pencil dance across the page. You can almost see the artist's hand moving, trying to capture the essence of these ancient sculptures. The top head is similarly ephemeral, a fleeting impression of a timeless artwork. Stevns' approach reminds me of the sketches of Delacroix, who also used drawing as a way to explore and understand the world around him. These aren't finished works, but rather glimpses into an artist's process, and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.