Rejsedagbog 1845

Editor: This is an intriguing page from Johan Thomas Lundbye’s travel journal, dated 1845. It appears to be an ink drawing on paper, and I’m struck by how personal it feels, like a private glimpse into the artist's mind. What catches your eye when you look at this, as an art expert? Curator: For me, it's the immediacy. Lundbye is thinking aloud, recording not just what he sees but how he *feels*. You get the impression he's not creating a polished artwork here; he's simply trying to capture a fleeting moment or a new insight as purely and immediately as possible, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Yes, there's something very intimate about it. It's not polished, and there are lots of crossings out and revisions, so he really seemed to let his mind loose on paper! Curator: Precisely. These journals weren’t made for public display. Lundbye’s concern was simply exploring, reflecting upon what he experienced, developing himself and his thoughts - using words *and* sketches, in combination. Notice, it’s both image and text blended seamlessly. Is this, perhaps, less about *looking* at the world than it is about how *he* experienced the world? Editor: That's a great way to put it! It almost makes the content secondary – more a trigger for introspection. So, what can we really learn from something this intimate? Curator: Well, intimacy *is* knowledge, of a sort! Seeing how an artist wrestles with their perceptions can illuminate the final works in unexpected ways. I find these glimpses into the artist's private moments deeply affecting and honest. Don't you? Editor: Absolutely. I went in thinking it was "just" a sketch, but I see now how much more revealing it is!