Regnskab 1847 1847

This is Martinus Rørbye’s “Regnskab 1847,” or "Account 1847," created in 1847 with ink on paper. Rørbye, an artist associated with the Danish Golden Age, lived during a time of significant national identity formation and cultural flourishing in Denmark. In this personal account book, we see glimpses into Rørbye’s daily life and financial transactions. The meticulous handwriting and detailed entries speak to a culture of record-keeping and the importance of personal accounting. But what stories are hidden within these financial records? Did the listed expenditures support his artistic endeavors or reveal his relationship to societal expectations of artists? Rørbye died shortly after this piece was created. Therefore this work stands as a poignant reflection on a life lived and the intersection of personal and public life, reminding us that even in the most mundane details, there is a story waiting to be uncovered.