Skitser af hunde 1905 - 1907

These sketches of dogs are by Niels Larsen Stevns, probably made in his sketchbook, with a graphite pencil. The quick marks feel like Stevns was trying to capture a fleeting moment, the essence of dog-ness. Look at the page. It’s not about perfection, but more about an evolving process, one mark informing the next, trying to get the gesture just right. You can almost feel Stevns’ hand moving rapidly across the page. See the bottom right sketch? The scribbled lines give the dog a sense of energy and movement, like it’s just about to leap off the page. The pressure of the pencil varies, creating depth and shadow with some lines darker, some lighter. Stevns reminds me of Constantin Guys who also captured scenes of everyday life with a similar sense of immediacy. Both artists show us that art isn't about finished products, but about the journey of seeing and recording the world around us. It’s this openness to experimentation and ambiguity that makes art so endlessly fascinating.