Figurstudier 1906 - 1910

These ‘Figurstudier’ were made by Niels Larsen Stevns, probably in Denmark, at some point in his career. The page has a real sense of immediacy - a collection of studies made from life, as if the artist were dashing down fleeting observations. I think of art-making as a way of seeing, and this page suggests the artist is training their eye, learning how to see the world in new ways. The materiality of the piece is important here; the rough paper and the delicate pencil marks give a sense of intimacy. The various smudges and marks suggest a process of trial and error, of searching for the right line, the right form. Look at the way the marks cluster around each other, forming little clumps or constellations. Each one is a record of a moment, of an attempt to capture something elusive. It reminds me of work by Manet and Degas, who also used sketching to engage with modern life and how sketching allowed a capture of everyday moments with all their ambiguities. The multiple attempts, erasures, and revisions are what make this piece so compelling, suggesting the beauty of art as a form of conversation.