Skitser af sejlbåde og fugle, frontal- og profilskitse af gravsten. Pris- og målangivelser, der hører til side 89 1906

This small sketchbook page is by Niels Larsen Stevns and is currently located at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Executed in pencil, it captures a series of sketches including sailboats, birds, and a frontal and profile sketch of a gravestone, accompanied by price and measurement indications. Stevns was working during a period of significant social and artistic change in Denmark. His art often reflected the cultural values and the shifts in societal norms of his time. Within this sketch, the juxtaposition of sailboats and birds with a gravestone, coupled with the economic annotations, weaves together themes of life, death, and commerce. The birds and sailboats evoke a sense of freedom, while the gravestone serves as a stark reminder of mortality. This little piece encapsulates a range of human experiences – from freedom to remembrance to economics. Stevns invites us to consider the varied dimensions of our existence and the values we place on them.