Bosvoorde in de sneeuw 1911

Rik Wouters made this etching, "Bosvoorde in de sneeuw," in Belgium, during a time of significant social and political change. Wouters uses the etching technique to create a scene blanketed in snow. The image invites us to consider the relationship between landscape, community, and industry in early 20th-century Belgium. The presence of a smoking chimney amidst the quaint village alludes to the industrial developments and the changing social fabric of the time. Historically, this work can be situated within the broader context of European printmaking, particularly the etching revival. Artists turned to printmaking as a means of engaging with social issues. We might explore publications and exhibition records from that time, to understand how the image relates to contemporary discussions about modernization and the environment. In doing so, we recognize how art serves as a record of cultural and social shifts.