Ornamentstudier 1906

Niels Larsen Stevns created "Ornamentstudier" using graphite on paper. The sketchbook page divides into distinct vertical zones, each exploring variations on ornamentation. Linear patterns run along the vertical axis, with the repeated motifs creating rhythm. Notice the contrast between geometric and organic forms: the zigzag lines with sharply angled edges offset the meandering curves of vine-like structures. The composition is less about illusionism and more about the interplay of forms and the dynamic between order and irregularity. Stevns seems to be engaging with the language of abstraction, exploring how simple, repeated forms can create complex visual interest. The grid of the paper supports the compositions as if they are a study of spatial organization and pattern recognition, inviting us to reflect on how we perceive and interpret visual information. The work offers a structuralist approach, breaking down visual elements into their basic components, in order to generate meaning.