Rejsedagbog 1845

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye's travel journal; it's undated, and held at the Statens Museum for Kunst. Lundbye, a landscape painter, often infused his art with deep national romanticism. He tragically died young, at just 29, during the First Schleswig War. Here, Lundbye’s handwritten script gives us an intimate glimpse into his observations and thoughts during his travels. The journal entries reveal more than just scenic descriptions; they offer insights into the cultural and social milieus he encountered. His reflections, written in a personal tone, evoke a sense of immediacy, allowing us to connect with his experiences on a visceral level. Consider how Lundbye grapples with his sense of self in relation to the landscapes he traverses. He describes steamboats on the Main river, but also reflects on his own artistic identity. His words, like the strokes of a brush, invite us to contemplate the interplay between personal experience and the broader narratives of nationhood and identity.