Liber Veritatis. Tegninger og akvareller efter Lundbyes malerier fra 1834 og frem 1834 - 1848

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this drawing, "Liber Veritatis", around 1837, using pen and ink on paper. It's part of a series of drawings and watercolors after his own paintings. Lundbye was working in a period of Danish nationalism, and his landscapes often reflect a desire to capture the essence of the Danish countryside. Here, we see an image of rural life, with figures tending to sheep in a field. These pastoral scenes were closely tied to the political climate of the time, a moment when artists sought to define a national identity through depictions of their homeland. The title "Liber Veritatis," or "Book of Truth," references a practice of artists creating a record of their work. Lundbye was associated with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, which played a key role in shaping artistic taste. By looking at his drawings alongside other cultural records, we can learn more about art as a product of the social and institutional forces of its time.