Vier afgemeerde schepen op een Bretons strand 1928

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this print of four boats on a Breton beach, but there is no record of the date or materials used. The artist uses a muted palette to create a sense of stillness and quietude. The surface is smooth, so the artist has probably used a fine, sharp tool to create thin lines and dense areas of shading. The effect is one of controlled precision, which is quite different from the looser and more gestural marks that I like to make. Looking closely, you can see that each boat has been rendered with careful attention to detail, but there is very little depth or shadow. The whole scene feels flattened, almost like a stage set. It reminds me of the early work of Edward Hopper, who was also interested in capturing a sense of quiet, everyday life, but Schelfhout's print feels more removed, more distant. While Hopper often uses stark contrasts of light and shadow to create a sense of drama, Schelfhout prefers a more even, subdued light. Both artists, however, invite us to pause and reflect on the beauty and mystery of the world around us.