Hoofd van een vrouw 1917

Lodewijk Schelfhout made this little etching, "Head of a Woman," in 1917, and it's all about the lines. The way they dig into the paper, capturing light and shadow. It's like a dance of dark and light, a real process of give-and-take. Look at the way the lines swarm around her hair, like a storm cloud, and then contrast this with the smooth, blank parts of her face. It’s all about the contrast; the etching feels so tactile, you can almost feel the pressure of the tool on the plate, pushing into the surface, digging in. That stark background pushes the figure forward, and that single dark line defining her jaw? It's so simple, but it speaks volumes. It’s like a thought bubble, full of possibilities. For me, this piece brings to mind the work of Käthe Kollwitz. Both artists share an interest in the human condition through intimate portraiture. Art's an ongoing chat, right? It's not about having all the answers, but about keeping the conversation flowing.