Rejsedagbog. Firenze 1846

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this page from his travel journal in Florence; it's a small personal document, a space for reflection. Lundbye was deeply embedded in the cultural and political contexts of his time, the Danish Golden Age. His diaries reveal not just an artist's observations, but also the sensibilities of a man caught between the national romanticism of his era and his personal struggles. As a young artist, Lundbye received a travel grant from the Academy. His notes reflect an encounter with the art and culture of Europe, but also his sense of national identity. He seems torn between the allure of international art and a longing for his homeland. In his writings, there’s a quest for artistic truth intertwined with personal introspection. Lundbye was concerned with the images he found in galleries and churches and how they resonated with his own experiences and identity. His words reflect a desire to capture the essence of a place. The journal becomes a space to negotiate his place in the world, both as an artist and as a man.