Rejsedagbog 1845

Johan Thomas Lundbye’s "Rejsedagbog" or "Travel Journal," was made in Denmark, in the 1800s, using paper and ink. This intimate object shows us how the stuff of everyday life—the kind of notebook you might carry in your pocket—can become a vehicle for art. Lundbye filled its pages with handwritten observations. It wasn't printed, or mass-produced; it was handwritten, each letter carefully inscribed with a quill. The very act of writing with ink and paper is a form of labor. This journal captures the artist's personal reflections and records of daily life, as well as artistic and cultural significance through the content of his writing, hinting at the socio-political context of 19th-century Denmark. By considering the materials, the making, and the context, we can understand the rich layers of meaning embedded in what might otherwise seem a simple, commonplace object.