Studier af oldkristne motiver, samt notater. Ravenna 1902 - 1905

This is Niels Larsen Stevns' study of old Christian motifs from Ravenna, made with watercolour and pencil on paper. The composition feels both precise and exploratory, as if the artist is mapping the visual logic of these ancient designs. I love how the watercolour is applied in thin washes, almost like a dye, allowing the paper's surface to breathe. Notice the contrast between the detailed, ornamental sections and the more open, sketch-like areas. The notes scrawled around the edges in Danish - "the green color is more blue-greyish" - gives an insight into the artist’s process. See how the yellow is used throughout to unify the different elements, creating a kind of luminous echo. Stevns' approach reminds me of Hilma af Klint, another Scandinavian artist deeply engaged with spiritual and symbolic forms. Both artists invite us to consider how art can be a vehicle for exploring the unseen, embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations.