Kalke med dyreskeletter 1864 - 1941

Niels Larsen Stevns made this drawing of animal skeletons on paper. This was likely made in Denmark in the late 19th or early 20th century. Stevns was working at a time when new scientific ideas about evolution were challenging traditional beliefs about the natural world, and the place of human beings within it. There was also a strong interest in understanding animal anatomy for scientific and artistic purposes. These sorts of studies were often done as part of academic training. The drawing style is simple, almost diagrammatic, emphasizing the structure of the bones rather than the animal's external appearance. The animal bones might remind us of mortality, inviting viewers to consider the relationships between humans and animals. To understand this drawing better, we might look into the curriculum of the Danish art academies or the popular science publications of that time. Ultimately, this drawing becomes a rich source of insights into the cultural and intellectual context of its time.