Studier af søjler 1900 - 1904

Niels Larsen Stevns made this pencil drawing, ‘Studies of Columns’ which is now in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The sketch provides an interesting insight into the artistic process, and how artists learn through the close study of classical forms. Made in Denmark, it’s interesting to consider the status of classical art, and how this may have been viewed by Danish artists at the time. The architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, as preserved in museums and books, offered itself as a model of harmonious form. Artists looked to the past for inspiration, absorbing its principles and adapting them to their own cultural context. This can be seen as part of a wider cultural movement across Europe and beyond. To understand this work better, we might explore the teaching methods used in art academies of the time. We could also look at the availability of reproductions, and the circulation of ideas about classical art in different regions. By considering these historical and institutional factors, we gain a deeper appreciation of the art itself.