Ex libris van T. Hiltermann 1928

This Ex libris van T. Hiltermann was made in 1918 by Lodewijk Schelfhout. It's an etching, which is like drawing with acid on metal to make a print. You know, it's all about the process, that dance between control and letting go. Here, it’s a cozy scene, an almost architectural arrangement of books and furniture, all rendered in these delicate, precise lines. But what gets me are the areas where the lines are denser, like around the fireplace. The light flickering on the stonework is really great. There’s something about the way the artist has used this technique to create a sense of depth and warmth, like you could step right into the scene. It’s funny to think of someone like Piranesi, with his grand, imaginary prisons. While Schelfhout is working on a much smaller scale, there is a similar sense of using line to create a believable space. Art is just one big conversation, right?