Blank 1864 - 1941

This small paper, by Niels Larsen Stevns, is a blank page with handwriting on the top right. The paper is rectangular, and the light suggests that it might be old, almost like parchment. I want to imagine the artist staring at it and contemplating what they want to draw on it. Maybe it’s an exercise or a warm-up, or something that they were doing to get their ideas flowing. Or maybe it was just sitting there for a long time and then somebody picked it up and scribbled on it. I think about the tension between the pristine surface and the urge to mark, to leave a trace. It reminds me that making art is all about decision-making, and sometimes the most powerful decision is to leave something untouched, to let the blankness speak for itself. It seems like it could be part of a bigger conversation between artists across generations who have been thinking about the creative process.