Portret van Ferdinand Bordewijk 1936

Lodewijk Schelfhout’s portrait of Ferdinand Bordewijk is a ghostly, monochromatic rendering. Imagine the artist peering intently at his subject, eyes scanning every contour and shadow, trying to capture some essential truth. The etching process must have been so intimate, requiring both incredible skill and a willingness to get lost in the details. Look at those fine lines around the eye, so delicate yet so full of expression. I bet Schelfhout felt a kinship with other artists working in monochrome. The way the artist models the face with subtle gradations reminds me of the portraits of writers and poets of the time. What was it like for Schelfhout to capture the essence of another creative mind? Perhaps he felt a sense of shared struggle and aspiration. Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation across time and place. We build on each other’s efforts, inspired by what came before, each adding our own voice to the mix. Ambiguity is baked in, and uncertainty keeps things interesting!