Studier af kvinder i Bernerdragt 1845

Editor: This is "Studies of Women in Bernese Costume" by Johan Thomas Lundbye, dating from 1845. It’s a pencil drawing on paper, looks like a page from a sketchbook. I'm struck by the intimacy of it, like a glimpse into the artist's personal travels. What's your take on this work? Curator: It’s fascinating to see Lundbye engaging with Switzerland, and the title suggests a specific interest in the attire of local women. We often view 19th-century art through the lens of national identity. The political implications of traditional costume, particularly in a place like Switzerland with its cantons and diverse regional identities, becomes an important theme in understanding this art. Consider, for example, what the image, combined with the inscription about a Hotel, might convey about Lundbye’s experiences while travelling, and how such drawings helped construct notions of national and regional identity for a Danish audience. Editor: So, this seemingly simple sketch could actually be commenting on broader issues of cultural identity and even early tourism? I wouldn't have thought of that! Curator: Absolutely. These depictions, presented in a sketchbook, have been displayed in this museum. They were always imbued with socio-political values about travel, Danish identity and landscape and otherizing women in Bern. What purpose is fulfilled when art made for an artist’s sketchbook is eventually showcased and enjoyed by a viewing public? Editor: It completely changes the meaning and adds new layers of context. Seeing it this way makes me appreciate how much art is shaped by its public role. Thank you! Curator: And for me, considering your insights highlights how even preliminary sketches like these become significant artifacts that shed light on how history is interpreted and visualized through art.