Skitse- og rejsedagbog. Danmark, Tyskland og Schweiz 1842 og 1845 1842 - 1845

Curator: At first glance, this small, red book whispers stories of travel and personal reflection. The aged paper label centered on the cover piques my curiosity. Editor: It certainly has a tactile quality. And given the visible wear, you sense it's a deeply personal object that's been carried around quite a bit. The romantic cover design almost harks back to Medieval manuscript design with the placement of date. Curator: Indeed. What we are looking at is Johan Thomas Lundbye's "Sketch and Travel Journal, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, 1842 and 1845." It's a rather modest item rendered in drawing on paper, housed right here at the SMK. Lundbye was a Danish Golden Age painter. Editor: So, a place to collect experiences as symbolic forms. Do you think the dates represent critical, formative trips or just capturing points in his artistic life? It’s intriguing how the date sits on a bright label, like it is its own object or memory. Curator: Absolutely. The Romantic period in Denmark, just like elsewhere, prioritized individual experience and emotion. This journal, by its very nature, served as a repository of his personal encounters with the world, meticulously documenting the environments he encountered. These are direct observations, the lifeblood from which he drew inspiration to his artistic statements. The fact it is not staged suggests how it may have acted like a personal prompt. Editor: And the very fact it’s a book makes me wonder: is this is a magical book filled with the secrets of the artist's ideas? The dates have the allure of ancient, hidden codes which is accentuated by its well worn look. Perhaps, a symbolic representation of Lundbye's most powerful life-altering experiences. Curator: Possibly so. Consider, though, the function of sketchbooks in that era. Beyond personal reflections, they were frequently seen as a key ingredient in academic and artistic training and were sometimes viewed in the exhibition spaces. It is interesting that some artists began making "sketchbooks" that were not that, which complicates matters a little. It seems his ideas here are more to refine artistic method. Editor: That's fascinating to consider – it gives a grounding and an earthly reality to this piece. What a poignant testament to Lundbye's journeys, internal and external. I find myself eager to explore the images contained within this sketchbook. Curator: Exactly. It's an intimate artifact offering a glimpse into an artist's creative process.