Skitser af siddende figurer 1864 - 1941

Niels Larsen Stevns made these sketches of seated figures with a pencil on paper. The simplicity and directness of the marks suggest a process rooted in observation and immediate response. The texture of the paper is subtly visible beneath the graphite lines, adding a layer of depth to the work, as though it were a palimpsest of previous ideas. The lines themselves are thin and variable, suggesting a tentative exploration of form and space. Look at the figure in the centre, hatched with parallel lines that both define its shape and give it a sense of volume, the marks feel playful and improvised. Compared to Stevns' more polished paintings, this sketchbook page offers a glimpse into the artist's process. It reminds us that art is not just about the finished product, but also about the journey of discovery and experimentation. Think of Philip Guston’s late drawings too, and how he was always trying to capture the same subject again and again, but always with a different feeling.