Skitser af sejlbåde i havet. Plantestudie og notat 1900 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of sailboats at sea, plant study and note with graphite and watercolor on paper. Looking at this open notebook, I can feel the artist's hand moving, trying to capture the essence of the sailboats gliding on the water. It feels like a race against the light, the wind, the changing tides. And then there's that little flower at the top, a delicate burst of color amidst the watery landscape. I imagine Niels sitting by the shore, squinting at the horizon, his mind racing to keep up with the scene unfolding before him. The graphite lines are so tentative, like he's feeling his way through the fog, trying to make sense of the world. And the watercolor washes give everything this soft, dreamy quality, like a memory fading in and out of focus. It's amazing how a simple sketch can hold so much feeling and intention. Niels is having a conversation with other landscape painters, and his personal touch makes it unique.