Blank 1864 - 1941

Curator: Here we have Niels Larsen Stevns' work, "Blank", dating from 1864 to 1941. It’s a drawing done on paper and currently residing here at the SMK. What are your first thoughts? Editor: An open book—an invitation to imprint and record, yet equally suggesting censorship and historical omission. The exposed pages suggest a document ready to be written on but devoid of text; a potent symbol of power and its negation. Curator: Considering the artist’s lifetime, the work speaks volumes. What paper was available during this era? What were its production costs? Was this blankness indicative of limited resources, perhaps highlighting who had access to documentation and knowledge at that time? Editor: It’s tempting to imagine how it might have been displayed in the context of that era. Who had the power to exhibit an empty book? Was it intended as a provocative statement within an art institution, perhaps a silent commentary on artistic freedom, on cultural erasure or untold histories? Curator: It’s striking, really, when you consider the materiality of the object. The deckle edge hints at handmade paper, yet without closer inspection, one might overlook the labor involved. If a viewer lingers longer, questions around the quality of paper and bookbinding techniques of the time could arise and provoke dialogues about labor or luxury of artists and writers. Editor: Yes, it invites speculations about its audience. The lack of inscription begs the question: Who controls the narrative and what narratives are excluded? Could its display, then and now, be read as a form of institutional critique? A potent, and visually stark reflection on who gets to be seen, and how narratives are shaped over time. Curator: Ultimately, Niels Larsen Stevns' piece forces us to recognize how the socio-political contexts influence art materials. The materials and labor of that blank canvas highlight class issues in creative spaces. Editor: A powerful silent artwork, reflecting a complex interplay of history, access and creative control. A space not for the art within its pages, but of the materials themselves.