Studier af ænder, høns og småfugle 1864 - 1941

Editor: Here we have Niels Larsen Stevns's "Studies of ducks, hens, and small birds," created sometime between 1864 and 1941, using pencil on paper. It’s at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. It's a pretty simple sketch, or series of sketches, showing, well, studies of different fowl. What stands out to me is the raw, unfinished quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the sketch's "unfinished" quality, as you put it, becomes quite interesting when considered historically. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw an increasing interest in realism and naturalism, emphasizing direct observation and a move away from idealized depictions. Do you think this work aligns with a specific socio-political environment of that time? Editor: I hadn't really thought of it that way. It just looked like a collection of practice sketches to me, more about the artist honing their skills, or getting a feel for the movement of birds. Curator: Exactly. It's easy to see it as "just sketches," but think about what was valued then. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and the rise of scientific thought led to a shift in artistic focus towards capturing the everyday realities and observable facts. Even quick sketches could become valuable insights. So how does seeing it within this context change your perception of the piece? Editor: That's true! Seeing the process, rather than the perfected image, might have been something new and appealing for audiences at that time. It's like... a form of visual truth? Curator: Precisely! Consider the societal role of art. Stevns’ work could have offered viewers an opportunity to engage with a form of unfiltered observation, reflecting a broader societal interest in documenting and understanding the natural world. Editor: I get it. I never would have seen that by myself, but knowing about the broader cultural shifts makes the piece far more interesting. Curator: It’s not just about what's on the paper, but about understanding the world surrounding the paper's creation.