Studier af råger eller ravne 1864 - 1941

Niels Larsen Stevns made these studies of crows or ravens with a pencil in a sketchbook. Just look at that flurry of marks conjuring these birds. I imagine Niels sitting outside with his sketchbook, quickly trying to capture the essence of these birds, their movements, their weight. He’s observing, thinking, and feeling, all at once. This isn't about perfection but about understanding, a kind of visual note-taking, you know? The lines are so alive, so immediate, you can almost feel the scratch of the pencil on paper. I’m thinking about other artists like Leonardo who also made endless studies of animals. It’s all one big conversation, these artists, across time, looking, learning, and riffing off each other, inspiring new ways of seeing and expressing. Each mark is a testament to the artist’s curiosity and the endless possibilities of painting.