Studie af rygvendt siddende figur og studie af en sko

Niels Larsen Stevns made this pencil drawing, of a seated figure and a shoe, on paper. It’s wispy, light. You can almost feel the quickness of his hand. The texture of the paper is smooth, but the lines are tentative, searching. Look how he's built up the form of the figure with these layers of soft, gray marks, like he’s feeling his way around the shapes. It’s a drawing, yes, but it's also about the process of seeing, of trying to capture something fleeting. I’m drawn to the confidence and certainty of the lines which describe the wooden slats that form the back of the chair. The contrast in styles creates a sense of depth and a feeling of an active, investigative creative process. This piece reminds me a little of Matisse's drawings, in that it captures the essence of a form with just a few simple lines. Like any good drawing, it invites you to slow down and really look. To see not just what’s there, but what could be.