Skitser af fugle og tegnende figur 1900 - 1905

This is a page of studies, made with pencil by Niels Larsen Stevns, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. I love the raw energy of sketches like these. You get a real sense of the artist working through ideas, trying to capture something fleeting. The lines are so tentative, like he’s feeling his way around the forms, not quite sure what he’s looking for. The bird on the right is the most defined, with its strong curved back, but the marks are so light, almost ephemeral, as if it might fly away at any moment. It makes me think of other artists who worked in sketchbooks, like Daumier or even Picasso. The sketchbook is a space for experimentation, for playing around with different ideas, for finding your way. It's not about perfection, it's about the process of discovery. It's where the magic happens.