Les Angels II 1912

Lodewijk Schelfhout created ‘Les Angels II,’ a print, sometime between 1900 and 1943. Schelfhout was working during a period of significant change in the Netherlands, marked by both world wars and a growing sense of national identity. This print of a hilltop village, with its stark contrasts and simplified forms, demonstrates a move away from traditional landscape art. The dense blacks and grays evoke a somber mood, reflecting the uncertainty and anxieties of the interwar period. The village, huddled beneath a looming sky, could be a metaphor for a society grappling with change. Look at how the architecture is presented: the geometric shapes feel almost like fortifications. The artist’s choice to render the scene in such a dramatic and abstracted way invites us to consider the psychological impact of the landscape, and the ways in which our surroundings shape our sense of belonging and identity. In this way, Schelfhout's "Les Angels II" functions as both a personal reflection and a broader commentary on the human condition.