Uddrag af Ælnods saga om Knud den hellige i Vendsyssel 1932 - 1935

This is a page from Niels Larsen Stevns’ sketchbook, untitled, and created sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Look at how the writing jostles for space, each letter leaning into the next. It’s a real dance of words! You can sense Stevns thinking through his pen, the movement across the page almost like a performance. The density of the script gives it a certain visual weight, like a dark, woven tapestry. Notice, for example, how the ‘k’ in ‘Kongen’ loops up, almost playfully, as if acknowledging the rich history it’s about to unfurl. To me, this page isn't just about conveying information; it’s about the physicality of thought, the act of storytelling made visible. It’s like eavesdropping on an artist’s mind as he wrestles with history and brings it to life through the sheer force of his pen. Stevns reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, in the way that his art grapples with history through a social lens, focusing on ordinary people. His work shows us that art isn't just about pretty pictures, it's about making sense of the world, one mark at a time.