Studier af blomster, bl.a. Dorthealilje, med artsangivelser 1919

Niels Larsen Stevns created this delicate study of flowers, including a Dorthealilje, using pen and ink on paper. Stevns, who lived through significant social and political changes in Denmark, including the rise of industrialization and the burgeoning of cultural nationalism, had a deep connection to the natural world, and a sensitivity towards the country and its people. These drawings of native plants, annotated with their names, are more than just botanical studies. They are quiet acts of claiming space, an assertion of belonging, a way of connecting with the land. In his work, Stevns consistently sought to depict the essence of Danish identity, and these drawings, in their simplicity and focus, reflect a desire to find beauty in the everyday. Consider the emotional weight carried by these images, produced during a time of rapid social change. The drawing invites us to consider the simple act of observation as an act of cultural and personal preservation.