Stilleven 1913

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this little etching called ‘Stilleven’ in 1913, and it's a reminder that art can be about seeing what’s already there. The whole image is built up from these tiny, scratchy marks. I love how they create the shapes of the flowers, the vase, and the chair in the background. It’s all about the pressure of the tool on the plate, making these lines that gather together to form a picture. Look at the way Schelfhout uses these lines to give the still life a sense of depth. The darks and lights aren't just about showing what's in front, they're about creating a mood, a feeling. See that curtain coming down from the top? It's all just a bunch of straight lines next to each other. It's like he's saying, 'I’m not hiding the way it’s made, it's all part of the thing.' Schelfhout reminds me of Morandi, both interested in the everyday, using simple marks to create something that feels both humble and profound.