Skitser af traner 1900 - 1905

These sketches of cranes were made with pencil and watercolour by Niels Larsen Stevns, though we're not sure exactly when. I'm drawn to the artist's commitment to process. He’s not trying to hide the messiness of art-making. The watery paint and loose pencil marks create a sense of movement, as if the birds are caught mid-flight. I can almost see the artist's hand moving across the page, trying to capture the essence of these creatures. The grey wash on the wings is particularly beautiful, a kind of shorthand for feathers, light and shadow. The way the cranes overlap creates depth, even though it's just a sketch. There's something very immediate and honest about this work, like looking over the shoulder of the artist. For me, someone like Cy Twombly comes to mind with his use of layering and visible erasures. I think this piece shows how art is always in conversation with itself, across time and between artists. It's like a game of telephone, where ideas are passed on and transformed with each new voice.