Stilleven met vis, fles en visnet 1930

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this etching, "Stilleven met vis, fles en visnet", or Still Life with Fish, Bottle, and Fishing Net, with ink on paper. What strikes me about this piece is the incredible detail and texture achieved through etching. Look closely at the fish – each scale seems painstakingly rendered, giving it a tactile, almost three-dimensional quality. The varying densities of the etched lines create a beautiful play of light and shadow, adding depth and realism. This process of layering and building up marks reminds me of my own painting practice, where each layer informs the next, creating a complex and dynamic surface. The fish is so meticulously described, in contrast to the vaguer background. It’s interesting how an artist can be so attentive to one thing, while letting another thing be more open. It reminds me of a Morandi. Schelfhout invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the everyday, highlighting the ongoing conversation between artists across time. Ultimately, art thrives on ambiguity, embracing multiple interpretations rather than fixed meanings.