Rankeornament samt vers. Side 13 1840 - 1844

Editor: This is “Rankeornament samt vers. Side 13,” created by Johan Thomas Lundbye between 1840 and 1844. It's a drawing on paper, housed at the SMK in Copenhagen. My first impression is that it's an intimate look into the artist's private thoughts. What strikes you when you see it? Curator: You know, what I find fascinating about Lundbye’s sketchbook pages is the blurring of boundaries. It's not just about the skill, though there’s plenty, is it? More so it is the openness. This looks to be sketches coupled with writing, like fragments of a diary... Editor: Definitely, I see both drawing and what looks like prose. Almost stream of consciousness writing? Curator: Precisely. It invites us into Lundbye’s inner world. A very fertile mind, I suspect. Almost as if you’ve found an unedited text message from your quirky artist friend where he might reflect on a dream he had, or ponder the beauty of light dancing on waves. He seems deeply sensitive, almost nostalgic… Editor: It gives off that impression, yeah! Curator: Think of the paper, the pen…it slows everything down, invites careful consideration. I almost wonder, with works like this, if he’s composing more for himself, than for any perceived audience. What do you think? Editor: That makes sense, because now that I think about it, the lines don’t seem super defined, making the piece seem less restricted in some way. It almost looks unfinished to the external eye, perhaps… Curator: Maybe. Though there’s a definite sense of deliberate care there. Imperfect care. Honest, thoughtful expression – what could be more 'finished' than that? For me, the piece feels full of potential – it ignites my imagination. Editor: It's true. This look into an artist’s unedited creative process provides such an intimate connection that is so fascinating.