Tidstavle over H.C. Andersens liv 1866-1844 1930 - 1938

Niels Larsen Stevns made this page in a book sometime between 1866 and 1941 using ink. Imagine Stevns hunched over this page, pen in hand, carefully forming each letter. The page is filled with densely packed handwriting in a dark, inky hue. It’s like an intimate glimpse into the artist's mind, where words and thoughts intertwine. He is creating a ‘Tidstavle’ or timeline. It could be a diary entry or notes from the artist as he traces the life of the writer Hans Christian Andersen. It's about travel, perhaps a biographical record of places visited. Look at how the lines of text meander and intersect! They create their own unique rhythm and texture across the page. The words become brushstrokes! This reminds me of Cy Twombly's scribbled paintings. Stevns and Twombly both use handwriting to chart a course through time. Handwriting becomes a portal into the human psyche, revealing the beauty of imperfection, and the poetry of everyday life.