Figurskitser 1906

This is a page of figure sketches by Niels Larsen Stevns, we don't know when it was made, but it was most likely done in pencil. You can see how the artist is working through different ideas and poses. The lines are tentative and searching, almost like he's feeling his way around the forms. There's a real sense of process here, of trying things out and not being afraid to make mistakes. And the grid of the paper showing through adds another layer, reminding us that this is a working document, not a finished piece. Look at the cluster of figures on the right side of the page. The way he suggests the folds of the fabric with just a few quick strokes is really beautiful. It reminds me of Rodin's drawings, which also have that same sense of immediacy and energy. Ultimately, these aren't polished drawings, but that's what makes them so appealing to me.