Udkast til "Skipper Klement i slaget ved Svenstrup mose", notat, kvadrering 1932 - 1935

This is a page of sketches made by Niels Larsen Stevns; it shows his workings towards a painting about the Battle of Svenstrup Moor in 1534. We see Skipper Clement, a leading figure in the Count’s Feud, during the peasants' revolt. The image creates meaning through its stark, rapid strokes, capturing the chaos and violence of battle. Made in Denmark, this sketch relates to a period of significant social and religious upheaval, as the Protestant Reformation challenged the established Catholic Church. The revolt itself was driven by economic grievances and religious fervor among the peasantry. Stevns, working centuries later, engages with this historical moment, likely reflecting on themes of social justice and national identity. Historical records, religious texts, and economic data from the period offer deeper insights into the context of the battle and its resonance in Danish history. The meaning of Stevns' sketches is contingent on its historical, social and institutional context.