Rejsedagbog 1845

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye’s travel journal, created sometime during his travels in the 1840s. Lundbye, a Danish Golden Age painter, lived during a time of great national romanticism, when artists turned to nature and folklore to define Danish identity. This journal offers intimate glimpses into Lundbye's thoughts and daily life. We see his handwriting, his reflections on art and nature, and his interactions with other artists. In this entry, written in Danish, he mentions speaking French and discusses his drawings. The act of journaling itself—recording observations, feelings, and experiences—was a way for Lundbye to process the world around him. Lundbye's personal life was marked by a deep connection to the natural world, and also by personal tragedy. He died young, at the age of 29, in the First Schleswig War. These journals allow us a window into the artist's mind, revealing the complex interplay between personal experience, artistic vision, and national identity.