Boom in een heuvellandschap 1913

Lodewijk Schelfhout created this landscape with a tree in 1918, using etching. This is a printmaking technique which involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The process gives the print a unique, slightly rugged texture, which really comes alive in the dense network of lines that define the forms. Look closely, and you'll see how the marks create areas of light and shadow, defining the volume and mass of the tree and surrounding landscape. The labor-intensive process of etching resonates with the subject matter itself, a landscape that hints at human presence through the buildings nestled among the hills. There is an echo of the work involved in shaping the natural world, as with making the image itself. Thinking about the amount of work involved in its production helps us appreciate the skill and effort that went into creating this compelling image. It challenges us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the natural world.