Brev til Universitetskvæturen 1923

Niels Larsen Stevns made this letter to the University Excursion using graphite on paper, with ink, in 1923. Here we see the inner workings of the Danish art world in the early 20th century, particularly the relationship between artists, patrons, and institutions. Stevns, writing from his residence in Florence, Italy, is corresponding with a University Excursion group. He's asking them to exchange a check or send him money, and in return they will receive one of his artworks. The letter shows us the material conditions that shape artistic production. Consider how financial transactions, patronage, and institutional support were essential for artists like Stevns to sustain their practice. Correspondence like this offers insights into the economic and social networks that underpin the art world. By consulting archival sources such as letters, financial records, and institutional documents, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex web of relationships that shaped the production and reception of art in Stevns’ time.