Vers. Side 21 1840 - 1844

Editor: Here we have Johan Thomas Lundbye's "Vers. Side 21," created sometime between 1840 and 1844. It's a drawing with ink and pencil on paper, and what immediately strikes me is the intimate, almost secret feeling of this miniature page of handwritten verses. It’s like stumbling upon a personal journal. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It’s like finding a little window into Lundbye's soul, isn’t it? What speaks to me is the artist's hand – you can almost feel his presence, his thoughts flowing onto the page. Notice the way he combines text with almost decorative flourishes. I like to imagine him penning these thoughts perhaps on one of his walking tours - perhaps in the very landscapes he’s known to capture. One can find it very romantic! How do you interpret the choice of calligraphy itself, as opposed to regular script? Editor: Well, I suppose the calligraphy gives it a formal feel, even though the content might be personal. It's like elevating everyday thoughts to something…more significant? Curator: Exactly! It's almost a sacred act, like enshrining these verses, imbuing them with importance. Do you think that tension – between the personal and the presentational – informs our reading of it now? Editor: Definitely. It makes you wonder about the intended audience. Was this purely for Lundbye himself, or did he envision sharing it? Curator: Precisely the kind of questions art should provoke! For me, that blending of the intimate and performative reminds us that art, even at its most private seeming, is a conversation. I love it - Lundbye invites us into his world so gently! Editor: It’s amazing to think how a simple drawing with ink can hold so many layers of meaning and invite such speculation. I’ll never look at a journal the same way. Curator: And hopefully, never look at a landscape without thinking of the thoughts it inspires!