Heilige Sebastiaan 1915

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this print, Heilige Sebastiaan, sometime between 1900 and 1943. It’s all about the lines, isn't it? Dark against light, scratchy marks building form, creating shadows. It reminds me that artmaking is as much about the process as the final image. The textures here are so physical, you can almost feel the scratch of the engraver's tool on the plate. Look at the way the lines radiate out from behind Saint Sebastian, almost like he's a beacon, or maybe he's just really suffering. And those buildings clustered at his feet – are they a haven, or a threat? I like how the solid lines of the city sit at odds with the ethereal light behind the figure. It’s all a bit theatrical, like a stage set. I’m thinking of artists like Edvard Munch, wrestling with similar themes of pain and spirituality. Ultimately, it’s about asking questions, not giving answers, and Schelfhout invites us into that space of ambiguity.