Hoofd, in profiel naar links 1878 - 1944

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this drawing of a head in profile, facing left, with ink on paper. The image is all about lines, like a quick thought captured. I imagine Mesquita making one confident stroke after another, feeling his way around the shape of the head and shoulders, trying to capture the essence of a person with just a few flicks of the wrist. See the way the lines wobble? I can see the artist's hand and shoulder moving as he tries to find just the right contour. The drawing reminds me of other artists who used lines in unique ways, like Matisse. I'm sure Mesquita was looking at the art around him and figuring out how to put his own spin on it. It's like a conversation between artists, each one building on what came before. It's a beautiful reminder that art doesn't always have to be perfect or finished. Sometimes, the most powerful works are the ones that show the artist's process, doubts, and discoveries.