Vrouw die biljart speelt 1878 - 1944

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita drew ‘Vrouw die biljart speelt’ - Woman playing billiards - in graphite pencil on paper. Mesquita, a Sephardic Jew in the Netherlands, tragically died at the hands of the Nazis during the Second World War. Knowing this, it is interesting to view this early 20th century drawing of a woman in a traditionally male space. Billiards was often associated with male social clubs and leisure, making the woman's presence notable. Does her intense focus break away from traditional representations, suggesting empowerment, or is her inclusion merely a fashionable pose? The unfinished quality of the drawing gives it an intimate, personal feel, as if we've caught a glimpse of a private moment. The woman’s posture and concentration invite us to reflect on the changing roles of women in society and the subtle ways in which artists like Mesquita captured these shifts. Though only a sketch, the drawing encapsulates larger social dynamics, marked both by progress and profound personal tragedy.