Studier af fugle 1864 - 1941

This page of 'Studier af fugle,' or 'Studies of Birds' by Niels Larsen Stevns is a graphite dance. The light, almost invisible marks, trace the idea of a bird in flight, suggesting movement, and a kind of open ended, experimental process. The paper has aged and turned a warm tan, so these delicate marks are really a whisper. Look closely and you’ll see a ghost of a bird, a wing perhaps, or the quick turn of a head. Stevns captures the essence of the birds, rather than a detailed depiction. The lines are so sparse that they barely touch the surface, like the touch of a feather. It reminds me of Twombly’s sketches. The process is so visible, isn't it? As if we are sitting with the artist, watching his thoughts take shape on the page. We can feel the ephemeral quality of the birds, their fleeting presence in the sky, and the artist's attempt to hold onto that moment.