Skitser af siddende figurer 1864 - 1941

Editor: This is "Skitser af siddende figurer" or "Sketches of Seated Figures," a pencil drawing on paper by Niels Larsen Stevns, dating from between 1864 and 1941. It's part of the collection at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. I find the raw simplicity of the lines almost intimate. It's like a glimpse into the artist's personal notebook. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely! There's a certain vulnerability to sketches, isn't there? We're seeing the artist thinking on paper. For me, the appeal lies in the suggestion of form rather than perfect representation. There is an intimacy, as if we've stumbled upon a quiet moment of reflection, both for the artist and the sitter. Look at how he captures the weight and curve of the seated figure with just a few deft strokes. There is life, I feel, within the simplest line. It feels like observing somebody dream or the gentle flow of time, what do you think about that? Editor: It definitely feels more about capturing a feeling than an exact likeness. It almost feels modernist to me, despite its age, pushing beyond traditional portraiture. Do you think that's intentional? Curator: "Intentional" is always tricky to decipher, isn't it? But Larsen Stevns was definitely part of a generation grappling with new ways of seeing. The rise of photography was challenging artists to move beyond mere replication. Artists wanted to tap into something deeper: emotion, movement, a sense of the inner life. Perhaps these sketches were the seed of larger explorations into those themes. Editor: That's really interesting to think about! It makes the sketch feel less like a preparation and more like a complete thought in itself. Curator: Precisely! It has a feeling of its own independent existence. A world created in minimal pencil strokes. Art-making has much to do with personal experiences, sometimes. What do you feel when looking at the page number '33'? What goes through your mind? Editor: The visible numbers give the sketches more intimacy: you could feel Larsen flip through the pages. Well, I certainly appreciate seeing art as an ever evolving set of dialogues! Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It’s wonderful to peel back the layers and let curiosity be your guide!