Rejsedagbog 1845

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye’s travel journal, undated, which is located at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Lundbye was a Danish painter and graphic artist, associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting. Travel journals in the 19th century were more than simple records; they were reflections of identity, class, and cultural perspective. As Lundbye journeyed through Europe, his observations were shaped by the romantic nationalism that influenced much of Danish art at the time. Consider the intersections of travel, identity, and artistic expression embodied in this journal. Lundbye’s sketches and notes provide insights into the world he inhabited, as well as his emotional and intellectual responses to it. The act of documenting his travels becomes a way of asserting his presence in and understanding of the world. Lundbye died at the young age of 29, leaving this travel journal as a poignant testament to his artistic journey and the world as he experienced it.