Wilg in een winterlandschap 1940

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this etching of a winter landscape. I love how a wintry scene can become the ground for so much potential, like a blank page. I’m imagining Schelfhout out there with his materials. He’s observing the bare branches of the wilg, or willow tree, how they reach out and form a graphic network against the pale sky. It feels like the image slowly emerged as he worked, a process of scratching and biting into the plate, adjusting line by line until it felt just right. The artist's choices in mark-making bring the scene to life, transforming the ordinary into something evocative and full of feeling. The wiry lines of the branches suggest movement, like the tree is caught in a gust of wind. You can see the influence of earlier landscape artists, but Schelfhout brings his unique vision. It’s a reminder of how artists are constantly in conversation with each other, building on the past while forging their path.