Stilleven before 1935

This is a still life by Lou Asperslagh, made with etching on paper. The marks are tight, controlled, and close together; a real exercise in process, building up the image bit by bit. It's mostly monochrome, but there's a real depth to the tones that he achieves by layering up the marks. You can see how the texture of the paper plays a part too, catching the light. The skull, in particular, has a lot of detail. It's resting on a book, and you can see every crack and ridge. It reminds me of the work of other symbolist artists, like Odilon Redon, who were also interested in exploring themes of mortality and the human condition through symbolic imagery. Ultimately, Asperslagh's still life invites us to contemplate the transient nature of life and the enduring power of art.