Skitser af fugle 1864 - 1941

These delicate Skitser af Fugle, or Sketches of Birds, were made by Niels Larsen Stevns, though the precise date remains unknown. It’s a peek into the sketchbook of someone really looking, trying to grasp the essence of these little creatures. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving swiftly, capturing the fleeting gestures and shapes. There is no sense of this being overworked or labored. Look at the way he suggests form with the barest of lines. See how the texture of the paper itself becomes part of the drawing? This reminds me of Twombly’s approach to drawing. Both artists embrace a kind of casualness, allowing the imperfections and accidents to become part of the work. These sketches are about seeing, but also about the joy of mark-making itself. They serve as a reminder that art is as much about the process of exploration as it is about the final product.