Rejsedagbog. Firenze 1846

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye’s travel journal, created in Florence. Its materials – paper, ink – are humble, but their combination allowed Lundbye to record his thoughts and observations. The handwriting itself is the primary material here. The formation of the letters, their density on the page, the crossings-out and corrections, all give us a sense of Lundbye's presence, his immediacy. We can imagine him sitting in a café, or perhaps in a quiet corner of a museum, quickly jotting down his impressions. The choice of a simple notebook format also speaks volumes. This wasn't meant to be a finished work of art, but rather a personal record, a tool for reflection. Lundbye's journal reminds us that even the most ordinary materials can be imbued with meaning, and that the act of making, whether it's a grand painting or a simple handwritten note, is always a form of communication. It bridges the gap between the artist and the viewer, across time and space.