Berg 1915

Curator: This etching, titled "Berg," created in 1915 by Lodewijk Schelfhout, presents an almost fantastical cityscape rendered in sharp, expressive lines. Editor: Oh, immediately, I'm struck by the drama. It's like a stage set, this looming mountain crowned with civilization. Gives me a very… impending sense of the uncanny. What do you think Schelfhout was trying to evoke? Curator: The graphic nature of the etching lends itself to symbolic interpretation. Consider how cities have often been seen, depending on the historical era and culture, as the best hope or ultimate doom for civilization. Do you see echoes of either? Editor: Both, definitely! The tight, almost claustrophobic way the buildings are packed together speaks of density, potential…and the road snaking its way up reminds me of life’s journey toward some unknown and possibly overwhelming endpoint. But then you've got those sturdy little trees standing at odd angles, like they are desperately hanging on. There’s something comforting about them. Curator: Notice the masterful use of line; see how the varying densities and directions create depth and texture in this monochromatic piece? Schelfhout is creating almost dream-like qualities using nothing more than marks in dark ink, allowing for a fluidity within structure. It also allows for the play with dark and light. Editor: Yes! The strong contrast amplifies that tension. The shadows seem almost to have substance, adding to this whole feel of looming fate or, let’s be optimistic, challenge to be faced, in turn becoming a monument. I’d be interested in seeing how he felt about the events unfolding across Europe at the time… It would bring it more to life somehow! Curator: Indeed! The combination of intricate geometric forms within the sweeping landscape suggests a search for order amidst, potentially, what could feel like societal chaos. Editor: This feels both monumental and deeply intimate—I mean, you can almost feel his hand guiding the stylus across the metal plate. I appreciate how "Berg" invites us into a conversation with not just a cityscape but the emotional landscape within ourselves, as well. Curator: Absolutely, I think we've only begun to scratch the surface here—an image with profound questions about structure, freedom, and even legacy to explore.