Meer in een heuvellandschap 1912

Lodewijk Schelfhout created this print of a lakescape using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back centuries. The artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then drawn the image into this coating with a sharp needle. The plate would then be submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. These lines hold the ink, and when pressed onto paper, transfer the image. Notice how the etched lines define the forms of the trees, hills, and water, giving the whole scene a stark and graphic quality. The hatching and cross-hatching give the print tonal variation and depth, building up the dark shadows in the foreground. Printmaking is a craft deeply rooted in the relationship between hand and machine, where the artist's skill is translated through mechanical reproduction. This challenges traditional notions of artistic originality, and reminds us that art-making is always a dialogue between concept, material, and process.