Naakte man die een fluit bespeelt 1915

Lodewijk Schelfhout created this etching, “Naked Man Playing a Flute,” using metal, acid, and ink. This printmaking process relies on the corrosive action of acid to create lines in a metal plate. The artist protects certain areas with a waxy "resist," then immerses the plate in acid. Afterwards, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, it’s pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you’ll notice the way that Schelfhout has created a full tonal range through the density of etched lines. Notice how the cross-hatching gives the image a sense of depth, and shadows, and how the starkness of the metal contrasts the softness of the human form, reflecting themes of industrialization and the human condition. This interplay between medium and message is what makes printmaking such a powerful form of expression, particularly around the turn of the century, as social issues increasingly became a theme in artmaking.