Skitser af struds. Notat 1900 - 1905

Editor: So, this is *Skitser af struds. Notat*, or "Sketches of Ostrich. Note" by Niels Larsen Stevns, drawn sometime between 1900 and 1905 using pencil. It feels so fleeting, like catching a glimpse of these birds in motion. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Fleeting is spot on! For me, it’s the raw energy captured here. Think about it: Stevns, a figuration artist known for realism, using these quick pencil strokes. There’s no posing, just pure observation, almost scientific in its approach. It’s like peering into the artist's mind, catching him working out the form, the weight, of these exotic creatures. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Where did he even see these ostriches? A zoo, maybe? Editor: That's fascinating! The thought that this was done from life really brings it alive. I hadn't considered that. Do you think the fact that it’s a sketch, unfinished in some ways, changes our perception? Curator: Absolutely. It's more intimate, more immediate. A finished piece can feel distant, perfected. But a sketch? It's like a whisper, inviting you into a creative secret. We’re not meant to admire a finished product but witness a process. The sketchy style embodies Realism with fleeting moments in life! It's less about perfection and more about truth. Editor: That makes me see it in a completely new light. I was so focused on it being "just" a sketch that I missed that intimacy. Thank you. Curator: It's easy to do. Art's like a riddle; the more you look, the more it gives. And sometimes, the "unfinished" pieces are the most revealing.