Rejsedagbog 1845

Editor: This is “Rejsedagbog” – “Travel Journal” – by Johan Thomas Lundbye, created in 1845. It's a drawing made with ink on paper and seems to be part of a sketchbook. The handwriting is so elegant, but what is most striking is the visuality of handwriting itself. How do you interpret this intimate glimpse into the artist's thoughts and observations? Curator: It is fascinating how Lundbye's travel journal positions the artist as a scholar actively engaging with both nature and art history. Think about the rise of Romanticism, where artists traveled to experience the sublime firsthand, sketching landscapes and reflecting on encounters with cultural heritage. The act of writing, drawing, and documenting became intertwined with self-discovery and artistic identity. The politics of looking and recording were intensely personal and subjective at the time. What do you make of the combination of text and image? Editor: I see it as a dialogue between the seen and the felt. He is not just recording what’s there, he's processing it, isn't he? Like he's turning observations into understanding. It seems incredibly…authentic. Curator: Exactly! This ‘authenticity’ was very curated and a specific performance linked to larger socio-cultural trends. This ties into questions around access and privilege; the means and education to travel and document were not universally available, thereby shaping whose perspectives and histories are recorded and valued. Who got to speak, and who got erased in the process? Editor: That gives me a lot to consider when examining the artist's view. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It seems our own modern lens also affects our comprehension of this work.