Rejsedagbog 1845

Curator: We’re looking at "Rejsedagbog," or "Travel Journal," an 1845 drawing by Johan Thomas Lundbye, held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: My first impression is one of intimate observation. There's a sketch of an animal—maybe a deer or antelope?—on the right-hand page, seemingly captured on the spot with quick pencil strokes. It's a delicate drawing, softened by age. Curator: Lundbye was deeply invested in the aesthetics of Romanticism. Consider how the subject, this animal, might symbolize our inherent connection with nature—a tenet so prized by the Romantics. Note the detail in the eyes; it gives a profound sense of sentience. Editor: Absolutely. And let's contextualize Lundbye's artistic practice within his broader engagement with nationalism. He was very interested in creating images that resonated with a Danish national identity, in a way to construct the essence of Danishness through depictions of the landscape, animals, and even people. Curator: Yes, one could suggest that the loose handling of pencil is essential. Look how Lundbye models the animal’s head—simple cross-hatching delineates form without closing it off. The blankness of the page even accentuates the animal, directing focus. Editor: But beyond the formal rendering, it’s necessary to look critically at who is afforded representation and how. Lundbye's romanticization of nature often glosses over the lived experiences and labor of people within those landscapes, further centering a specific bourgeois perspective. Curator: Fair. The sketch of the animal demonstrates both observation and abstraction, capturing the fleeting image during travel while still producing a finished composition. Editor: And it reminds us that landscape and nature have historically been fraught spaces of power, identity, and representation. Even a simple travel sketch holds deeper cultural significance. Curator: I see now, it shows us how seemingly benign or straightforward images participate in more complicated power dynamics. Editor: Precisely. Looking closer, we realize this image invites layered readings.