Studier af to af løvekvadrene fra Øster Starup kirke 1900 - 1904

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of two lion sculptures using pencil on paper. The image is composed of tentative, wiry lines that build up the forms of the lion sculptures. It’s a process of feeling out the shape, a kind of searching. The pencil marks aren't about being precious; they're about trying to understand something through drawing. The texture of the paper is part of the image too, with a warm, almost rustic quality. If you look closely at the lion’s mane, you can see how Stevns uses repeated strokes to give it volume and texture. It’s not about perfectly rendering every detail, but about capturing the essence of the form. Stevns was interested in exploring religious and mythical themes, but also everyday life. You could say that this drawing is part of an ongoing conversation about how we see and interpret the world around us. In some ways, the spirit and energy of this sketch reminds me of the work of Philip Guston. Both artists shared an interest in the power of simple forms and raw mark-making.