Skitser af geder 1864 - 1941

Editor: Right, next up we have "Skitser af geder," or "Sketches of Goats," by Niels Larsen Stevns, dating sometime between 1864 and 1941. It's a pencil drawing on paper, and I'm struck by how simple and almost abstract these forms are. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious goats? Curator: Beyond the goats, ah, a portal to a world viewed through the lens of a wonderfully playful mind! You see, I imagine Stevns sitting in a field, the goats becoming less about anatomical precision and more about capturing the *essence* of "goat-ness"—a certain stubborn tilt of the head, the quirky angles of their bodies. What is captured in the pencil mileage of the sketch is more a story. Do you agree? Editor: Yes, they definitely have personality! But I wonder, were these kinds of quick sketches common practice at the time, or was Stevns doing something different? Curator: Oh, sketching was absolutely a cornerstone of artistic training, darling. However, what I find remarkable here is Stevns’ almost whimsical approach. Instead of striving for academic perfection, he seems to be enjoying the *process* of observation. He captured the movement; if you stare at it long enough it will speak to you. Does it? Editor: I think so! It makes me want to grab my own sketchbook and just start drawing, without worrying too much about the outcome. Curator: Exactly! It’s about embracing the freedom to explore, to capture the fleeting beauty of everyday moments. Bravo, Niels Larsen Stevns, bravo. Editor: Well, that’s certainly given me a new appreciation for the humble goat sketch! Curator: And me for youthful inquisitiveness!