Studie af H. C. Andersen efter maleri. Farveangivelser 1930 - 1936

Niels Larsen Stevns made this study of H. C. Andersen with graphite on paper. The first thing that grabs me is the economy of line. There’s something so immediate and vulnerable about this sketch, like we’re looking over the artist’s shoulder as he’s trying to capture the essence of Andersen. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, lightly teasing out the form. I love how the artist notes down the colours of the hair and skin. It’s like he’s trying to understand how light works on a face, but also, he’s reminding himself of the warmth of human skin. It makes me wonder what Stevns was thinking as he drew, what he felt towards Andersen. Was he simply interested in the technical challenge of representing the writer, or was there a deeper connection? This study makes me think about how artists are constantly engaging with each other across time. They are inspired by one another, riffing on ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be.