blank 1864 - 1941

Here we have a spread from a book by Niels Larsen Stevns, housed here at the SMK. It’s a space of pure potential, a place where things can happen, ideas can take hold, and stories can unfold. The warm, aged paper has a texture that speaks of time, and use, almost like skin. A mark here or there suggests the physical act of turning the pages, the hand of the reader, the passing of time. I’m drawn to the bottom right corner. Here, you can see the paper is worn and slightly tattered, evidence of a life lived within its pages. It reminds me of a Cy Twombly painting, where scribbles and marks carry a kind of emotion. Or maybe Agnes Martin, with the stillness and openness of the blank page offering endless possibilities, inviting the viewer to bring their own thoughts and emotions to it.