Skitse af jolle 1905 - 1907

This quick sketch of a skiff was made by Niels Larsen Stevns, though we don’t know exactly when. The whole thing has this off-the-cuff, scribbled feel – look at those energetic lines hatching around the top of the boat. You can almost see him, right? Larsen Stevns, rapidly trying to capture the light and form. Those blocks of darker shading give the hull a sense of volume, while the open space around the boat creates a sense of depth. I bet he was thinking about other boat paintings as he worked, maybe some maritime painters, or even just his own memories of the water. It reminds me of the abstract expressionists, who similarly used spontaneous gestures to try and capture a feeling. And it is the same for painters today, who keep up that endless dialogue, each adding their own mark.