Rejsedagbog 1845

This page from a travel journal was made by Johan Thomas Lundbye, likely in Denmark, around the 1840s. Travel journals and sketchbooks provide valuable insight into the cultural values of their time. Lundbye's choice of what to record reveals what he considered important or beautiful. How does the act of recording a journey shape the journey itself? Does it become a quest for scenes to record? Does it reflect the values of a Danish art world, perhaps self-consciously provincial, trying to measure itself against cosmopolitan Europe? To understand this page fully, we would need to know more about Lundbye's biography, the artistic conventions of his time, and the expectations of his audience. A historian might compare this journal with others from the period, looking for common themes and unique perspectives. By situating this artwork within its specific historical context, we can gain a deeper appreciation of its meaning and significance.