Onweersbui 1913

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this etching of a thunderstorm in 1913 in the Netherlands. The light is pretty incredible, right? What I love about etchings is the way the artist coaxes light out of darkness. It’s all about the pressure, the controlled scratch. Look how Schelfhout uses these velvety blacks to define form. See that looming cloud in the upper right? The way it’s built up with these short, energetic lines gives it such a dramatic presence. It’s like the storm is right on top of us. This kind of intense, almost expressionistic handling of light and shadow reminds me of some of the German Expressionist printmakers, like Kathe Kollwitz. Both artists use the stark contrast of black and white to convey really intense emotions. Art’s about the exchange of ideas, an ongoing conversation between artists across time. Schelfhout’s storm is just one voice in that dialogue. It's a reminder that art is never about fixed answers, but about embracing the unknown, like facing a storm head-on.