stegning

Stegning is a term used in Norwegian and Danish to refer to drawing or sketching. It denotes the act of creating marks on a surface to represent objects, scenes, or ideas, typically using dry media such as pencil, charcoal, or ink, but it can also include wash, watercolor, or digital tools when used in a drawing context. In modern usage, tegning is the more common word for a finished drawing, while stegning may appear in older texts or in contexts emphasizing the process, such as preparatory studies or sketches.

Techniques and media commonly associated with stegning include graphite pencils, charcoal, ink pens, and chalk on paper. Drawings can range from small, quick studies to larger, more detailed works. In many fields, stegning serves as a preparatory activity to plan composition, light, and perspective before executing a final artwork in another medium. In architecture and design, stegning can refer to schematic drawings and early design sketches.

History and context: The practice of drawing spans ancient to contemporary traditions. In Nordic art history, stegning and its related terms have been used to record observations, ideas, and plans across centuries, reflecting a continuum from naturalistic studies to modern expression. The emergence of printmaking, illustration, and digital drawing has broadened what can be produced within the realm of stegning.

See also: Drawing, sketch, illustration, study, draftsmanship, storyboard.