Skitse af sværd, langknive, pallasker 1933 - 1934

Editor: This sketch, “Skitse af sværd, langknive, pallasker,” which translates to “Sketch of swords, long knives, broadswords," was created by Niels Larsen Stevns between 1933 and 1934 using ink on paper. I'm really struck by the rawness of it; it feels like a direct record of thought, even a quick imagining of these weapon forms. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: For me, the intrigue lies in the process of making. Notice the artist's use of humble materials, like ink on lined paper – probably a common notebook. This speaks to the ready availability of tools, and the democratisation of artmaking. There's a clear emphasis on utility here. Were these weapons actually produced, or were they just ideas for objects, potential means of production of societal relations, mapped out on paper? Editor: That's a compelling idea. It does blur the line between art and design, almost like an industrial sketch. Curator: Precisely. Think about the labour involved, the material sourcing, the blacksmith's craft versus Stevns’ quick notations. It also raises questions about the societal role of weaponry. Do these sketches glorify or critique power? The tools might be violent, but the choice to render them in an art context shifts how we consider them. What would it mean to move from sketch to actual materialised weapon? Editor: So you're saying the value isn't just in the finished piece, but in what it tells us about the potential physical work, or historical power, behind such objects? Curator: Absolutely. The means of production informs its meaning. Consider the paper’s surface, too. Does the lined surface suggest restriction, as in social regulation? The artist is using very accessible technology of mass production— paper— to work through design ideas for historical hand weaponry, an interesting tension! What are your final thoughts now? Editor: Now I see that what appears as just a quick drawing, is also tied to power, production and even Stevns' world itself. Thank you, that gives me a new perspective. Curator: My pleasure!