Figurskitser 1900 - 1904

This sketch, *Figurskitser*, was made by Niels Larsen Stevns using graphite on paper. What strikes me is the process; the quick, searching lines suggest a mind working rapidly, trying to capture something fleeting. It’s not about perfection; it's about the act of seeing and recording. The texture of the paper itself is almost as important as the marks. The light tan colour peeks through the graphite, creating a kind of warmth, or atmosphere. Look at the way the lines are layered, especially in the smaller figure to the left. It’s almost like a little cloud of graphite, a mass of energy coalescing into form. I love how he leaves so much open, unfinished; you're invited to complete the picture. This piece reminds me of the work of Manet; not in terms of subject matter, but in its immediacy. Both artists seem to be searching for something in the act of drawing itself. Art isn't about answers, but about the questions.