Studier efter August Saabyes H.C. Andersen-skulptur i Kongens Have, København 1930 - 1938

Niels Larsen Stevns made this drawing, Studier efter August Saabyes H.C. Andersen-skulptur i Kongens Have, København, with pencil on paper. Looking at those scribbled lines, I can almost feel the artist sketching rapidly, trying to capture the essence of the sculpture in Kongens Have. I wonder what it was like for Stevns, sitting there, observing Saabye’s sculpture. Was he thinking about form, volume, or perhaps the story of H.C. Andersen himself? Notice how the lines are both delicate and assertive, creating a sense of depth and movement. The texture of the paper adds another layer, a quiet backdrop to the energetic strokes. You can see a similar searching quality in the work of other artists like Giacometti, who were always trying to grasp the fleeting nature of form. What’s so cool about drawing, like painting, is how it can open up conversations across time. Stevns was in dialogue with Saabye, and now we are in dialogue with Stevns. It’s all about embodied expression, embracing the uncertainty and allowing for multiple interpretations.