Skitser af hønsefugle 1900 - 1905

This sheet of studies of fowl, by Niels Larsen Stevns, is so light it's almost like looking at a ghost. The soft graphite line barely kisses the paper, a whisper of an image. You can see the grid of the notebook showing through, which gives it a kind of structure, but it also reveals the tentative nature of the marks. Look how the quick, almost scribbled lines capture the essence of these birds. There's a real sense of movement, of life being breathed onto the page. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's sketches. These studies aren’t about perfection, but about the process of looking, feeling, and responding. It's interesting how Stevns leaves so much space around the forms. The emptiness becomes just as important as the filled areas, creating a sense of air and light. It's like he's inviting us to fill in the blanks. These sketches offer a glimpse into the artist's mind, a record of his fleeting observations and artistic explorations.