Studie af rose 1930 - 1936

Editor: Here we have Niels Larsen Stevns' "Studie af rose," created sometime between 1930 and 1936. It’s a drawing done with pencil and colored pencil on paper. The lines are delicate. What’s most striking is how the rose seems almost to float on the page. What’s your perspective on this sketch? Curator: Considering its materiality, this piece speaks volumes about artistic labor. A sketch, often preliminary, exposes the raw mechanics of art production. Note the choice of humble materials - pencil, paper. What does that suggest about Stevns’ intentions here? Was this meant as a fleeting study, or did it hold potential for further refinement? Editor: Maybe both? I’m curious about the choice to combine pencil and colored pencil, though. It’s subtle. Curator: Exactly. It’s not about illusionism. It's about process and decisions. The colored pencil hints at an engagement with color theory and a broader engagement with art history while staying within a clear focus on process. How does the organic theme relate to the artistic practice, from your perspective? Editor: Well, the rose itself, a natural form, is transformed through labor into art. I suppose that's a key point when discussing art centered around the ‘organic.’ Curator: Precisely! And that transformation involves conscious decisions around medium and application. Looking at the subtle smudges, or the visible texture of the paper - what stories do they tell about the artistic labour that produced this study? Editor: It feels like the art exists not only in the image of the rose, but in the visible decisions made along the way. Curator: Right. And by deconstructing the visual result, the artistic practice becomes clear. I've certainly never thought about it that way! Editor: Yes! By focusing on material and process, you've changed the whole piece for me!