Rejsedagbog 1845

This small book, Rejsedagbog, was made by Johan Thomas Lundbye in the 1800s. It's a humble object, made with inexpensive paper and bound in a simple cover. The pages are filled with dense, handwritten text in Danish and ink drawings, likely done with a quill or fine-tipped pen. The materiality of the book, its size and portability, suggests a personal and intimate purpose. It could be a travel journal, a commonplace book, or a collection of sketches and observations. Lundbye was a painter, and it would seem he made many of his paintings en plein air, in the landscape. In this context, the book becomes a tool for capturing fleeting impressions and working out ideas. The accessibility of paper and ink allowed Lundbye to record his thoughts and observations, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and everyday life. It also is an intimate way for the artist to connect with the world around him.