Boomgaard 1916

This etching by Lodewijk Schelfhout is a landscape made using thin, precise lines. When you look closely, you can see each mark was made with real intention, building to create this detailed and atmospheric image. The black ink creates a strong contrast with the white paper, giving the work a graphic quality. The texture is amazing. The lines are so dense in places that it feels almost velvety. The tree is a real focal point. See how the artist has used the lines to suggest the rough texture of the bark? And how that contrasts with the soft, feathery leaves? The windmill in the background looks almost like a ghost, a dream. This piece reminds me of other artists like Lyonel Feininger. There's a similar sense of capturing the mood of a place through the careful use of line and form. For me, this piece is all about capturing a specific moment, a certain feeling of peace and quiet, in a small corner of the world.