Figurkomposition - udkast til relief om forskellige håndværk? 1932 - 1935

This sketch by Niels Larsen Stevns is in the collection of the SMK in Copenhagen, and looks like it was made with ink on paper. I like how the cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, even though it’s just a sketch. It's like he's thinking through the forms, letting the marks build up to suggest the figures and their surroundings. Look at how the density of the lines changes to create areas of light and shadow. It’s almost like he’s carving the image out of the page with his pen. There’s a real energy to the piece, a sense of movement and activity. You can almost feel the artist working, making decisions, and changing his mind as he goes. For me, this sketch is a reminder that art is a process, a way of thinking and exploring the world, as much as it is a finished product. Think of other artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker who worked in a similar way, using bold lines and simplified forms to capture the essence of their subjects. Ultimately, art is about embracing the unknown, and finding meaning in the process of creation.