En høstvogn med en kaglende høne på vognstangen 1847

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this drawing of a harvest wagon with pen and ink on paper. The linear precision and attention to detail shows how crucial drawing was for 19th-century artists. What's interesting is that Lundbye chose an everyday farm tool as his subject. Look closely and you can see the wooden construction, the iron fittings, and even a hen perched on the wagon's pole. This was a time when industrialization was rapidly changing the landscape. Lundbye, like many artists, was interested in capturing traditional ways of life, particularly those rooted in rural labor. Notice how the drawing style itself emphasizes the labor involved in the wagon's making. Every line suggests the hand of the carpenter, the shaping of wood, and the joining of materials. Lundbye elevates this humble object to a subject worthy of artistic attention. This makes us consider the value of craft and labor. It invites us to see the beauty and significance in the objects that surround us.