Drie afgemeerde schepen op een strand 1928

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this print of three boats moored on a beach—using delicate strokes, he pulled an image from a plate, inking it with shades of grey. You know, printmaking is like a treasure hunt, each print a bit different, a surprise. I wonder about Schelfhout looking at these boats, maybe daydreaming about the ocean. What was it like to stand there, choosing just the right angle? And how do you suggest depth with such a limited palette? He shows the waves by using lines that almost look like a child's drawing of clouds, which is really clever. It's a way of saying, "I see it simply." The way the boats rest on the sand reminds me of other artists who were inspired by the sea, like Whistler. Artists keep answering each other across time, exchanging ideas. Every artwork is part of an ongoing conversation.