Rejsedagbog. Milano 1846

Curator: Let me introduce you to "Rejsedagbog. Milano," a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye's travel diary, dating back to 1846. It’s rendered in ink on paper, a small glimpse into the artist's journey. Editor: Hmm, looks like a to-do list or notes hastily jotted down during a busy day. Definitely gives off a vibe of practicality. Curator: It's more than just a simple record. Lundbye's landscape style is evident, even here in written form. Imagine him pausing to capture impressions, turning observations into sketches and written notes. It's almost like he's sharing his thoughts, mixing image and text. Editor: Well, seeing the handwritten text, the almost obsessive lines that fill up the page, there's an inherent design to it as a surface. The evenness and repetitive lines remind me of Agnes Martin. Curator: Fascinating. Lundbye’s words meticulously transcribe places he visited – mentions of Mont Blanc, Brescia, even observations about Milan's cathedral. I picture him, pen in hand, recording dimensions. You get that tangible sense of being alongside him as he travels and observes. Editor: The very materiality is a narrative in and of itself, you know? Paper and ink—ephemeral tools, bearing witness to fleeting moments. Curator: Exactly. It’s intimate, direct. He reflects not only visual but textural and atmospheric details that contribute to our impression of the world beyond. The physical scale emphasizes it, a truly personal journal made accessible. Editor: And now, reflecting, one's left pondering: How do we piece together this journey using our own maps, emotions, or desires? Curator: A reminder perhaps of our connection to time, the movement through landscape, captured so beautifully here in just a few square inches of ink on paper.