Udkast til "Kristus helbreder en spedalsk" 1937 - 1938

This is Niels Larsen Stevns' sketch, "Draft for 'Christ Healing a Leper,'" now held at the SMK. The artist lived through a time of significant social and religious change, and his art often reflects a deep engagement with moral and spiritual themes. In this sketch, we see the beginning of an exploration of compassion and healing. Leprosy, a disease that historically carried immense social stigma, becomes a focal point. Think about the cultural context: leprosy was not just a disease but a marker of social exclusion, embodying fears about contagion and morality. Stevns, deeply religious, turns to this figure of Christ to address society’s attitude towards those on the margins. What I find compelling here is the quiet way Stevns approaches this scene, focusing on the potential for empathy in a time when many turned away from the suffering. It's a subtle but powerful commentary on the human condition.