Blank 1832

This is a blank page from a sketchbook by Martinus Rørbye. Rørbye, born in 1803, lived in a period defined by Romanticism and the rise of national identities. Consider the cultural context of 19th-century art. Sketchbooks weren’t just for practice; they were spaces for artists to work through their own ideas about identity, society, and their place within it. What did it mean for Rørbye to leave this page blank? Was it a pause, a moment of reflection, or perhaps a statement in itself? The blankness invites speculation. It allows us to project our own thoughts and experiences, to consider what narratives we would inscribe in this space. Reflect on the potential behind a blank page, the anticipation of what is to come, and how this simple space can challenge our expectations of art and self-expression.