Etikhove 1926

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this print called Etikhove, using etching, and it is undated. I see how the marks make a landscape! Look at the way the dark lines gather at the base of the tree, like a shadow holding everything together. Then, how the lines get thinner and lighter as they reach up into the sky, creating a sense of airiness. I love how the tree's branches reach out like fingers, each one a little different. For me, this print lives in the touch of the hand, in the way the artist carefully scratched each line into the plate. You can see how the ink settles into the grooves, creating a velvety texture. The way the fence is rendered, it’s almost as if it’s breathing. It reminds me of the prints of Emil Nolde in its directness. It is like looking at a world through someone else's eyes. It is a conversation, a sharing of thoughts and feelings, as we build upon each other's ideas.