Het Maereltje 1917

Lodewijk Schelfhout created this print, Het Maereltje, using etching, a traditional printmaking technique. The image is created by lines cut into a metal plate, which holds ink, and is then pressed onto paper. Look closely and you’ll notice the image has a hand-drawn quality that only etching can give. This aesthetic reflects the Arts and Crafts movement’s values, where the labour and skill involved were prized, in contrast to mass-produced goods of industrial capitalism. The detailed lines create the dark, moody atmosphere typical of this period. Schelfhout's choice of etching and the careful composition imbue this print with social meaning. As an artwork, this print elevates the everyday architecture, giving value to subjects beyond the traditionally grand. This piece blurs the boundaries between craft and fine art, making a statement about what art can represent and how it connects to our lives.