Galloperende hoppe med føl 1846

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this pen and ink drawing of a galloping mare and foal in Denmark, sometime in the 1800's. Lundbye was part of the Danish Golden Age art movement that began after the Napoleonic wars, as Denmark sought to redefine its national identity. This work depicts a naturalistic scene, but the careful composition and attention to detail elevate it beyond a simple sketch. The positioning of the horses and the open space around them create a sense of freedom and movement. This can be linked to Denmark's agrarian society, and the romantic nationalist movement that emphasized the beauty of the Danish countryside, in art and literature. To understand Lundbye’s work more fully, we might consult exhibition reviews or the artist's diaries and letters. This would help us to appreciate how the artwork is contingent on its time and place.