Bondegård og gadekær 1847

Johan Thomas Lundbye made this watercolour of a farm and pond, materials which are traditional in the art world, yet here, Lundbye is using them to depict the everyday. The transparency of the watercolour paint allows the paper to shine through, giving the scene a fresh, airy quality. Look at the thatched roof of the barn, so carefully rendered. Thatching is a highly skilled craft, requiring years of practice to master, and thatching traditions vary from region to region. Here, Lundbye has captured the texture and the craft involved in creating the roof. Lundbye’s choice of subject matter—the farm, the pond, the farmer’s labour—speaks to a broader interest in rural life during the 19th century, a time of great social and economic change. By celebrating the beauty and the industry of the Danish countryside, Lundbye elevates the everyday to the level of high art.