Studieblad fra malkepladsen i Vognserup. Foroven især studier af køer, i midten bl.a. malkevog-nen og forneden Vognserup hovedbygning og længer 1844

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this drawing in 1847, a study sheet from the Vognserup milking yard. We see studies of cows, a milk cart, and the main building and wings of Vognserup. In mid-19th century Denmark, the art academy was promoting a national romanticism tied to rural life. Lundbye’s drawing suggests the artist’s interest in the country life, while also revealing an intimate knowledge of farm work. He carefully drew different types of cows, and appears to have been studying their anatomy in detail. The drawing may also indicate his social awareness, or perhaps his social concerns. The life of the rural folk was not always easy, particularly in the context of the economic depression that Denmark experienced in the 1840s. By studying Lundbye’s sketchbooks and journals, and researching the economic conditions in Denmark, we can gain an even greater insight into the work. Art reflects the realities of its time and we, as historians, can shed light on it.