Mågen. Illustration til Kaalunds "Fabler for Børn". Se kommentar fra arkkatalog. 1843

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this illustration, "Mågen," with pen and ink. The composition draws the eye across a horizon line that neatly divides sea and sky. The artist creates depth and perspective by using diagonal lines that recede from the lower right towards the sea on the left. A cluster of bushes at the end of a faint path in the foreground provides a strong sense of grounding. In contrast, the seagull in flight, positioned high above the landscape, introduces a motif of freedom and transcendence. The sparse use of hatching and cross-hatching gives form to the land, sea and sky; these graphic marks convey not just visual data but also evoke a palpable atmosphere. Here, the formal elements of line and composition work together to suggest a deeper symbolic narrative about nature and freedom, reflecting the cultural codes of his time. It captures a moment that invites ongoing reflection and reinterpretation.