Plantestudier, den ene en rød kløver 1906 - 1910

Niels Larsen Stevns made this drawing of plant studies, including a red clover, with ink on paper. I imagine him outside, in a field, with his sketchbook balanced on his knee, trying to capture the essence of these plants. The lines are so lively, aren’t they? They remind me of quick, decisive gestures. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving it a sense of immediacy. The diagonal strokes within each leaf create volume and shadow – it’s not just about outlining, but filling in and creating depth. The clover has such a simple form, but Stevns manages to make it so interesting with the variation of mark-making. I wonder if he was thinking about other botanical artists, maybe even Dürer? Artists are always looking at each other's work, riffing off ideas, and pushing things further. This drawing feels like a moment of playful observation, an artist connecting with the natural world and sharing that vision with us.