Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of Bertel Thorvaldsen after a painting at Frederiksborg, using pencil on paper. It's all about the scribbled line here, isn't it? I love how the lines build up, like a kind of emotional shading, creating a sense of depth and form with just a few strokes. You can almost feel the artist circling around the subject, trying to capture its essence. The texture of the paper adds another layer, giving the drawing a raw, immediate quality. Look at the way Stevns renders the figure's head. It's not about precision, but about capturing the weight and volume. See how the lines vary in thickness and intensity? That's where the energy lies. This sketch reminds me a little of Rodin's drawings. Both artists share this incredible ability to convey so much with so little, leaving space for the viewer to fill in the gaps. It’s like an open invitation into the process itself.