Technique: Etching on paper
Year: ca. 1910 - 1930
Ft: 23 x 31,5 cm (plate size) | 25,5 x 34,5 cm (frame)
Signature: Hand-signed in pencil lower right 'Armand Apol', also monogrammed 'APOL' in the plate
Condition: In good antiquarian condition, minor uniform toning/browning of the paper consistent with age. Includes faux-wood veneer frame.
Edition: Épreuve d'Artiste (Artist's Proof), handwritten notation 'ép. d'a.' lower left.
This characteristic graphic work by Armand Apol captures the tranquility and nostalgia of the early 20th-century Zeeuws-Vlaanderen border landscape. The etching depicts the historic Dutch town of Sluis, located just across the Belgian border near Knokke and Bruges. In the early 1900s—much like nearby Damme—Sluis was a favorite destination for artists drawn to the vast polder landscapes, traditional fishing boats, and monumental windmills.
Central to the composition is a traditional Zeeland windmill, surrounded by rustic village houses and barns with distinctive roofs. In the background to the right, the silhouette of a moored barge or sailing vessel on the Sluise Vaart (the canal between Bruges and Sluis) can be seen, emphasizing the maritime character of the border region.
As a master etcher, Apol utilized powerful linear hatching and subtle sepia-toned gradations to create a beautiful sense of depth and a serene, melancholic atmosphere. Because this particular print is an Épreuve d'Artiste (Artist's Proof), it boasts exceptional line clarity, having been printed directly under the artist's watchful eye. A wonderful collector's item with a strong historical connection to the Belgian-Dutch border region.
