Skitse med målangivelser 1900 - 1904

Editor: This is "Skitse med målangivelser," or "Sketch with Dimensions," made between 1900 and 1904 by Niels Larsen Stevns. It's a drawing on paper using coloured pencil and pencil. The diagrammatic form sits rather starkly against the heavily aged paper. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: The seeming simplicity of this drawing is deceptive. On one level, it is a study, a glimpse into the artist's process of design. But consider the social and historical context: the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw rapid industrialization and a turn towards functionalism. What statements are made by the dimensioned, carefully considered, illustration here? Editor: So, beyond just the functional aspect of the design process, are you saying it represents a larger commentary on that societal shift? Curator: Precisely. Look at the care with which the artist has rendered what is essentially a technical drawing. What does it say about the value of craftsmanship and precision in an era of mass production? Are we looking at a celebration of the individual maker, or a lament for a lost way of life? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered that an artist's hand sketches on aged paper could actually represent some resistance to mass production through functional design! Curator: Art constantly challenges and reflects the values of its time. Editor: Thank you, it gives me an interesting way to consider art going forward. Curator: My pleasure; now, go forth and subvert some expectations!