Studier af ægyptiske statuehoveder. Notat 1900 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made this pencil sketch of Egyptian statue heads at an unknown date. These drawings reflect a growing European fascination with ancient Egypt that took root in the nineteenth century. The fascination with Egypt led to a boom in archaeological expeditions, often supported by European institutions. The result was a massive influx of Egyptian artifacts into European museums. This allowed artists like Stevns to study them up close. We see Stevns’s interest in capturing the essence of Egyptian sculpture. The sketched lines convey a sense of the form and volume of these ancient heads. Was he interested in ancient Egyptian culture, or was he simply using it as a tool to develop his craft? Art historians consult a range of resources to better understand the context of artworks like this, including the artist’s other works, letters, and the exhibition history. The meaning of art changes based on these social and institutional contexts.