Groep figuren in een boog 1923

Here’s a print of a group of figures made by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita using the woodcut technique. Look at the stark contrast between black and white, achieved through the forceful carving of lines into the woodblock, and the many faces peering out from this intense scene. I wonder, was he trying to create a sense of community or perhaps capture a moment of intense interaction? What were these people thinking? The image pulsates with the energy of the artist's hand. The act of carving itself—the physical engagement with the material, the calculated risks, and the commitment to each mark—it’s all so present. De Mesquita’s style and subject matter departs so clearly from traditional printmaking. He was, and remains, unique. And that is very important. Each of these choices contributes to the dialogue within art history, pushing the boundaries of what art can be and how it can speak to us.