Afskrift fra Blichers novelle "Vinhandleren og Herremanden", p. 203 l.1-2 & 29-34, p. 204, l. 7-11, p. 208 l. 31-34 & 37-40 1932 - 1935

This sketchbook page by Niels Larsen Stevns, made sometime around the turn of the 20th century, presents us with dense text and sketched figures, a juxtaposition that invites contemplation on the relationship between narrative and form. The page is dominated by lines of tightly packed handwriting, excerpts from Blicher’s novella. These words form a textural field, a visual density that competes with the sparse sketches alongside. Look how Stevns uses line—the controlled lines of text against the frenetic strokes of the sketches—to create a visual tension. The juxtaposition of text and image creates a semiotic interplay. The text, being linear and logical, contrasts with the fluid and suggestive forms of the drawings. This challenges any fixed meaning and opens up space for new interpretations. The materiality of the page itself becomes a ground for this interplay. Consider how the formal elements work together to create a unified field of expression. This is not just a document; it is a performance of reading and seeing, inviting us to engage with the dynamic between text and image, language and form.