Tidstavle over H.C. Andersens liv 1866-1844 1930 - 1938

This page, titled "Tidstavle over H.C. Andersens liv 1866-1844," was created by Niels Larsen Stevns. It looks like it was probably made with a simple pen on paper. What strikes me about this piece is its directness, it's like looking at someone’s unfiltered thoughts. The writing is legible, but has a casual, almost frenetic energy that feels immediate. Looking closer, you can see where the ink is darker, where the pen lingered longer on the page, where it has splattered, giving a sense of the artist's physical presence. The marks aren't perfect, they're full of character, which to me, makes them so much more interesting than if they were perfect typeset. I think of Cy Twombly's scribbled paintings. Ultimately, this work makes me think about the beauty of imperfection, the value of process, and the artist's hand.