Uitgang van een haven 1924

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this etching of a harbor exit sometime in the early 20th century, pulling the image out of a plate with ink. I imagine Schelfhout hunched over his plate, carefully scratching lines to build up these boats and waves. There's a real sense of depth in this small scene, with the boats receding into the distance. The closest boat almost feels like it’s gliding right off the paper toward us, doesn't it? What I love about etchings is the way the artist can create such a range of tones with just simple lines. You can feel the texture of the water, the weight of the boats, the vastness of the sky. It's kind of like he is whispering to us about the sea. Artists, they're always talking to each other across time, right? Schelfhout, with his delicate lines, reminds me of Whistler and other printmakers who were so good at capturing a feeling, a mood. It's all about the conversation, the exchange of ideas, and the way we keep finding new ways to see the world.