Sabelantilope 1927

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this woodcut of a Sable Antelope sometime before 1944, and it's a lesson in how much you can do with a little. The stark black and white is so striking, isn't it? Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist coaxes form out of the material, using these tiny, deliberate cuts. It’s almost like he's building the image, piece by piece, with each line contributing to the animal’s presence. I really get a sense of Mesquita’s process in the gradation of fine lines in the foreground, creating the illusion of rounded form with just these simple repetitive cuts. There's a strong graphic quality that reminds me of the German Expressionist woodcuts of the time, like Kirchner, but with a softer, more decorative touch. It’s fascinating how artists can be in dialogue across time, borrowing and transforming ideas. This piece is a reminder that art is always in conversation, always changing, always open to new interpretations.