Studie af Napoleon. Efter maleri på Frederiksborg? 1930 - 1938

This is Niels Larsen Stevns’ sketch of Napoleon, probably made with pencil in a sketchbook. What strikes me is the economy of the marks; the artist's hand moving quickly, confidently across the page. The paper is visible beneath the marks, each line so immediate, so raw. Look at how the face is formed from these almost scribbled marks, an interesting contrast to the more considered, careful hatching that describes the coat. There’s a real sense of process here, of Stevns working through an idea, trying to capture something essential about his subject. You can almost see him thinking, adjusting, refining with each stroke. This sketch reminds me a bit of Picasso’s early studies – that same sense of restless energy and exploration. It shows how artists constantly engage with the past, reinterpreting and reimagining the figures that came before.