Studier af rammer og rundstave. Notater 1900 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made these studies of frames and batons in pencil in an undated sketchbook. It’s a modest drawing, but it’s so full of possibility, you know? I’m drawn to the way Stevns used simple marks to create these ornate forms. The graphite is almost transparent on the page, giving a sense of light and air, and the whole thing feels really spontaneous. I love to think about all the tiny decisions and adjustments that he made in the moment, as he worked to capture the essence of these decorative objects. If you look closely, you can see these beautiful little details emerging from the page. It’s clear that Stevns was really looking, really paying attention, and in a way, that’s what artmaking is all about. I think of someone like Jasper Johns who was similarly taken by the power of humble objects.