Blank 1896

This blank page was made by Niels Larsen Stevns, a Danish artist who lived from 1864 to 1941. It is held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Although at first it seems to offer nothing, this is actually a sketchbook page, and as such it gestures towards the entire artistic process. Stevns was working during a time of great social and artistic change in Denmark. The rise of industrialization, urbanization, and new political ideologies such as socialism had a profound impact on Danish society and art. Artists began to question traditional values and explore new ways of representing the world around them. Why has the institution chosen to display this blank page? Perhaps to remind us that a museum is a cultural institution with the power to declare something, anything, as worthy of aesthetic contemplation. To truly understand Stevns' work, it would be beneficial to explore his other works and also delve into archival materials from the period. This would shed light on the artistic, social, and institutional context in which he was working.