Udkast til "Kristus velsigner de små børn" 1937 - 1938

This is a sketch for "Christ blessing the little children" by Niels Larsen Stevns. You can see the beginnings of a scene in thin blue pencil. The artist seems to be searching for the right composition, or the right feeling, blocking in a crowd, a tree, and a bending figure. I love seeing the process like this. It reminds me that art is about trying things out and not being afraid to make mistakes. On the left, there are some abstract marks with heavy black pencil, maybe a warm-up for the hand, or just doodling while thinking. Those marks contrast with the ethereal quality of the rest of the sketch. It gives the piece a sense of depth and mystery, and a grounding in pure mark making. I think of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist from this period, who also wanted to capture spiritual or emotional experiences with just a few lines. Both artists show how art can be a conversation between seeing and feeling.