To studier af en hest 1885

Niels Larsen Stevns made this pencil sketch, 'To studier af en hest', on paper. It shows the most basic of artistic processes: the intimate connection between eye, hand, and humble materials. The inherent qualities of pencil on paper - its rough texture and the way the graphite adheres - are evident in the marks left by Stevns. The artist has engaged with a skilled tradition and the aesthetics of art to create the piece. The marks on the paper testify to the work and effort involved in the artistic process. It shows the initial stage of art creation, when the hand responds directly to what the artist sees, and how this process leads to the formation of ideas, and making decisions. This piece reminds us that materials and processes, no matter how simple, are vital to understanding an artwork's full meaning, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.