Skitser af Amalienborg og Frederikskirken 1881

Niels Larsen Stevns sketched Amalienborg and Frederikskirken with graphite on paper. The composition juxtaposes the imposing dome of Frederikskirken with the linear facade of Amalienborg, creating a dialogue between the sacred and the secular. The sketch's form explores contrasts. Notice how the curved lines of the church dome play against the straight lines of the palace. This juxtaposition can be seen through structuralist lenses as a play of binary oppositions, where the spiritual and temporal aspects of society are visually debated. The use of graphite results in subtle tonal variations, suggesting depth and volume. However, the sketch remains unfinished, inviting viewers to complete the image in their minds. This incompleteness reflects a post-structuralist idea: that meaning is never fixed but always deferred and open to interpretation. The sketch's open-ended nature challenges the notion of a singular, authoritative meaning. Instead, the sketch becomes a space for interaction and negotiation between the artwork and the viewer.