Hilversum en omstreken 1926

Lodewijk Schelfhout created this print, Hilversum en omstreken, using etching. Schelfhout lived through both World Wars and died during the Second World War. The work depicts the landscape of Hilversum, a Dutch town. In the foreground is a bridge with a figure crossing it. In the mid-ground there are houses and fields, and in the background you can see the skyline of Hilversum including the imposing spire of a church. A beam of light shines down from the sky. The print evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, before the chaos of the war years. Schelfhout's choice of landscape could reflect a desire to connect with the natural world, seeking solace in the beauty of the Dutch countryside. However, the presence of the church and the beam of light from the sky could suggest a deeper spiritual longing, a yearning for hope amidst the turmoil of his time.