Studier af fugle 1864 - 1941

This page of ‘Studies of Birds’ was created by Niels Larsen Stevns, sometime between 1864 and 1941. It's a kind of rehearsal, where the artist is working out how to see, and how to translate what he sees onto the page. I love the way the artist captures the essence of these birds with such minimal lines, like shorthand. It’s all about process here, the artist’s eye and hand working together, trying to understand form. The graphite marks are so light, they almost float on the page. You can practically feel the pressure of the pencil, and how it creates the bird’s shape. Look how Stevns keeps things open and unresolved, allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks. He doesn't belabor the point, but there’s a real confidence and trust in the medium. It reminds me of Manet's sketches, the way he could suggest so much with so little. This piece invites us to slow down, to appreciate the beauty of the unfinished, and to value the process of seeing and making above all else.