Fiskeskitser 1905 - 1907

Niels Larsen Stevns made these Fiskeskitser, or Fish Sketches, with graphite on paper. It's more about capturing the idea of a fish, its essence, than a photorealistic image. Look at those lines – scratchy, urgent, like he's trying to pin down something slippery and alive. It's all about process, about thinking through drawing. See how some of the lines are darker, more assertive, while others are just ghostlike suggestions? It reminds me of my own process when I'm trying to find the form. The texture of the paper shows through, that simple grid a reminder of the artist's hand, setting the stage for this burst of creative energy. This feels connected to the quick observational drawings of someone like Van Gogh, always searching for the soul of the subject through direct, honest mark-making. It’s not about perfection, but about the joy and struggle of seeing and capturing what you see.