Rejse på mulæsler 1840 - 1843

Editor: This print, “Rejse paa mulæsler,” or “Journey on Mules,” made sometime between 1840 and 1843, is a simple drawing but with so many implied lines to create value, shadows. It’s lovely. What's your impression? Curator: Well, isn't it funny? I keep getting drawn back to those scratchy lines carving out this mountainside world! There’s a charming directness. It reminds me of childhood storybooks, where adventure lurks around every ink-drawn corner. Editor: Storybooks...that is exactly it! It also feels documentary in style. What story do you think it's trying to tell? Curator: Ah, a wonderful question. Do you notice the way the figures seem so determined, despite the obviously arduous path? To me, it speaks of a time of exploration, perhaps even a yearning for the unknown. There's a bit of bravado, too, a confidence almost at odds with the roughness of the scene. And of course there is what could be a traveler looking down into an abyss, very romantic. What feelings do those sorts of Romantic undertones suggest? Editor: I didn't consider Romanticism, I think I see how the journey is prioritized rather than the end. I see now how the image balances a feeling of a quiet confidence despite a very palpable sense of doom! Curator: Exactly! It's like the artist is saying, "Even when the path is uncertain, the journey itself is what matters." What an encouragement in those days - or today? And that’s something to take away as you navigate the rest of this museum. Editor: So well said! Thank you so much. I feel I'm starting my own journey with new perspective, even a mule!