Ornamentik 1864 - 1941

Curator: Looking at this sketchbook drawing, I'm struck by the whimsical combination of sun-like figures and almost architectural designs sketched on what seems to be a used page of written notes. The spontaneity really leaps out. Editor: This is "Ornamentik" by Niels Larsen Stevns, created sometime between 1864 and 1941. It's a work on paper using ink, pencil and possibly colored pencil. You know, the placement feels very intentional despite its loose quality. Curator: I find the sun-like image at the top fascinating. The central circle evokes ancient solar symbols, but then the looping lines emanating from it are much more playful, almost cartoonish. Editor: To me, this resonates with primal power—sun disks often represent life force and divinity across diverse cultures. Perhaps Stevns was tapping into that very deep visual vocabulary. Also there's what seems to be some writing there...I wonder what its presence signifies? Is the art commenting or extending some argument that appears in the original document? Curator: That's precisely what draws me to this piece. The integration of text suggests the context of creative thinking. You get a sense of Stevns experimenting with imagery alongside practical notations, making art part of his everyday existence. This type of book was important during that period in democratizing not only text, but in the making of artworks that served both pleasure and professional development. Editor: Exactly! The contrast adds depth; the solid, almost stoic, ornamental figures beneath seem anchored to earth, while that sun bursts with boundless energy. It’s a visual dialogue, maybe representing different facets of creativity. Curator: Considering Stevns' wider oeuvre, it may point to his influences and practices, a moment captured within the life of the sketchbook itself. Editor: A lovely synthesis of purpose and vision contained within this unassuming page. Thanks for illuminating my vision.