Blank 1864 - 1941

Curator: Here we have "Blank" by Niels Larsen Stevns, an intriguing drawing on paper dated between 1864 and 1941. It's held here at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: Well, it certainly is… blank. At first glance, I see texture and age. The worn edges of the paper and binding speak volumes, don’t they? The off-white shade isn’t pristine, hinting at handling and maybe even hidden labor. Curator: Indeed. One could interpret this work as a provocation. A blank page represents untapped potential, perhaps commenting on the restricted roles afforded to certain identities – artists of color, queer artists, women throughout art history. What stories remain unwritten, what voices unheard? Editor: I like that framing. The absence does highlight what *isn’t* there. But from a material perspective, isn’t the paper itself doing work? Its very existence represents industrial processes – the harvesting of materials, the labour involved in creation. It begs the question: Is anything ever truly 'blank?' Curator: An excellent point! Think about the power dynamics embedded within the creation and ownership of the materials themselves. Who had access to create, to write, to leave their mark, and who was denied? What social and economic barriers determined whose voices would be amplified? Editor: Right, and this silence prompts us to consider all the steps – from raw resource to finished object. Paper isn’t simply found; it’s produced through a complex process with varying degrees of ethical and environmental consequence depending on its period. We might be compelled to appreciate this blank space in its historical context. Curator: So, perhaps Stevns presents us not with emptiness, but with an invitation to interrogate historical inequities. To consider the countless stories that remain untold. A canvas for reflecting on art's complex relationship with power, identity, and social justice. Editor: Exactly. "Blank" isn’t devoid of meaning; it's overflowing with the possibility of making something. Thinking through how it’s crafted pushes us toward larger structural reflections. I appreciate how Stevns, seemingly so simple, nudges viewers to analyze. Curator: I see your point so well. Ultimately, "Blank" underscores how what is missing can speak as powerfully as what is present, demanding reflection and change. Editor: And prompting closer consideration of labor, consumption, and even our expectations surrounding artistic production. Thank you!