Studier efter gravmæler 1932 - 1935

Here we see a page from Niels Larsen Stevns’ sketchbook, filled with studies of funerary monuments, each element brimming with symbolic weight. Note the winged figure unfurling a scroll; a motif echoing ancient Greek depictions of Nike, the goddess of victory, often seen in triumphal processions. Observe how this figure re-emerges in Christian art as an angel, bearing witness to divine messages, and declarations of eternal life. The scroll, too, has a rich lineage. Think of the Roman "volumen," a symbol of knowledge and authority, or the sacred texts held by prophets and saints throughout the ages. This symbol transcends time and space, evolving with each cultural reinterpretation. The psychological power of these images resides in our collective memory. The winged figure evokes a sense of aspiration, while the scroll speaks to our deep-seated need for meaning and understanding. Such motifs are not merely decorative; they are potent vessels of cultural memory, resurfacing across centuries to stir our souls.