Rejsedagbog. Milano 1846

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye's travel journal, made during his travels, sometime in the 1800s. The text evokes a pilgrimage of sorts, tracing Madonnas and holy figures across Milan. We see not mere descriptions, but a dance of memory and influence: Correggio's Madonna with a rabbit, the Adoration of the Magi by Mantegna, and the echoes of Leonardo da Vinci. Consider the Madonna—an archetype representing purity, motherhood, and divine grace. This symbol is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The Madonna appears in various forms, from the tender Correggio version to the regal figures of Titian. Over centuries, she has transformed, carrying different cultural burdens and emotional resonance. Each iteration is a ripple in the collective unconscious, surfacing in different forms and contexts. These sacred images form a non-linear procession, resurfacing and evolving, revealing their cyclical and timeless nature.