Corsicaanse herder 1920

Lodewijk Schelfhout made "Corsicaanse herder" using etching, and drypoint. The tones achieved through etching make me think about what it means to embrace and explore the process of artmaking; it’s that act of discovery, or maybe ‘un-discovery’ in this case, that makes the image so powerful. The shepherd's face, with its closed eyes, stands out, framed by the dark tones of the Corsican landscape. The texture is key; the drypoint marks give a tactile quality, almost like you could reach out and feel the rough texture of the shepherd's clothes or the bark of the tree. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the materiality of the work, drawing attention to each delicate line. I feel like this is a picture about sleep, but also a picture about seeing. This piece reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also explored themes of landscape and the human figure in a similarly direct and honest way. Ultimately, art is a conversation across time, each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before.