Kasteel op een heuvel 1919

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this print, Kasteel op een heuvel, with etching. The dramatic light radiating from the castle immediately jumps out at you, doesn't it? With etching, the artist coaxes depth and detail out of simple lines. It’s about the choreography of dark and light, making the image pop. The texture of the lines create a velvety feel across the surface. Look how Schelfhout uses a single line to define the edge of a tree, while building up a mass of dark marks to define the shadows of the castle wall. It’s kind of magical how he uses such simple means to create such atmosphere. It’s like he’s not just showing us a place, but inviting us into a mood. Schelfhout reminds me of Symbolist artists like Odilon Redon, who also used stark contrasts and dreamlike imagery to evoke something beyond the visible world. Art is this ongoing conversation, right? Always echoing, always evolving.