Kunstnerens bror C.C. Lundbye, halvt liggende med højre hånd hvilende på hovedet 1837

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this drawing of his brother, C.C. Lundbye, in pencil. It captures a pensive moment, his brother’s hand resting on his head. Lundbye came of age during the Danish Golden Age, a period marked by a burgeoning national identity. In this context, the intimate portrayal of his brother speaks to a deeper societal narrative of family and belonging. It is a moment suspended, a brother captured in thought. There’s a tenderness in the artist’s hand as he renders his brother's likeness. The resting hand could suggest a moment of repose, but it might also carry a weight of contemplation. It's a study of a man, yes, but also a study of the self, seen through the lens of familial connection. This simple sketch offers us an entry point into the emotional and intellectual life of 19th-century Denmark, filtered through the intimate bond between brothers.