Udkast til "Den barmhjertige Samaritaner" 1937 - 1938

This is Niels Larsen Stevns's preliminary sketch for "The Good Samaritan." The motif of the Good Samaritan, stemming from the Gospel of Luke, centers on compassion and selfless aid, symbolized here by the act of tending to the wounded traveler. The Samaritan’s gesture of lifting and caring for the injured man carries echoes of ancient pietà scenes, where the Virgin Mary cradles the body of Christ. This composition reappears across cultures and centuries, manifesting not only in religious art but also secular depictions of grief and empathy. Consider the countless images of mothers holding their children, each reflecting a fundamental human connection, underscoring the enduring power of empathy and compassion. This continuous return to foundational images reveals the persistent human need to express and understand profound emotions. The cyclical nature of these motifs demonstrates our ongoing quest to grasp the human condition.