Plantestudie samt næsten udviskede figurer 1900 - 1904

This plant study by Niels Larsen Stevns is made with pencil on paper. The artist has used very soft, and quick strokes, especially for the figures, which have been almost erased. It is likely that the texture of the paper, its absorbent quality, helped to create this blurry effect. The artist focuses on the plant's organic form and texture, emphasizing the natural world around him, perhaps as an escape from the increasing industrialization of society. The work is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, and the amount of work involved in the production process, but it also explores the therapeutic potential of nature and art-making, providing a momentary escape from the demands of modern life. The artist's attention to the materials and making process, challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider the social and cultural significance embedded within the artwork.