Rejsedagbog 1846

Curator: This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye’s travel journal, titled “Rejsedagbog,” dating back to 1846. It's an ink drawing on paper, currently held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: Immediately striking is how intimate and personal it feels. The cramped, spidery handwriting covering the page evokes a sense of immediacy and lived experience. Curator: Exactly. Lundbye was a Romantic painter deeply influenced by the Danish landscape and folklore. This journal offers a glimpse into his travels in Italy, capturing impressions and reflections in real time. Note the numerous art historical references here: "Galleri Borghese," then notes on Raphael, Correggio, Titian... Editor: Yes, the sheer density is fascinating. He’s cataloging works he saw—compiling not only visual details, but something of their emotional impact too? It's not merely description but almost…annotations for his soul. Curator: That's insightful. Think about the act of recording these observations, transforming fleeting experiences into permanent text. The journey isn’t just geographic, but an inner odyssey, mapped onto these pages. And that he refers to some works over others speaks to Lundbye's evolving taste and sensibility. He’s trying to clarify to himself what exactly moves him about these works. Editor: He references "Madonna Ligeena," "Portrait of Commander." I would love to see a portrait done of him in this style, in a travelogue context. What kind of visual notes would his own artist leave? And how would he react to this art of him being examined, years later, and presented again for our reflection. Curator: It makes me think of how cultural memory operates. These sketches and notes aren't isolated; they participate in an ongoing conversation with the past, with artistic tradition. Lundbye interprets Italian masterpieces through the lens of his own cultural background and artistic aspirations. Editor: Seeing art like this reminds us that the artist wasn’t just observing the world, they were processing it. It makes these sketches almost as important as Lundbye’s major landscape works, adding new layers to how we see and experience both his travels and paintings. Curator: Indeed, and this piece urges us to appreciate the rich tapestry of influences, ideas, and emotions that make up a single page.