Skitser af ko 1900 - 1905

This small, undated sketch of a cow was drawn by Niels Larsen Stevns, probably in a sketchbook. It's all about process here. You can see the artist feeling his way around the form, with layered pencil lines that build up the volume of the cow's body. The paper itself has a humble quality, with a stain at the top which is kind of beautiful in its imperfection. The drawing feels immediate, like a direct response to seeing the animal. There's a lovely energy in the diagonal strokes that suggest the cow's flank. These lines aren't just descriptive; they give the drawing a sense of movement and life. Stevns captures something essential about the animal with very few marks, reminding me of the simple, yet powerful animal drawings of Franz Marc. Ultimately, this sketch invites us to appreciate the beauty of the everyday and the power of simple lines to convey complex forms.