Lezen (Liggend naakt, een boek lezend) 1913

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this woodcut print, Lezen, of a reclining nude reading a book. What strikes me first is the stark contrast of black and white, a real push and pull. Look closely, and you'll see the way the patterns on the chaise lounge vibrate against the smooth skin of the figure. It's like a visual hum. There’s something about the flatness of the print that feels very modern, even though it was made in a different time. De Mesquita isn’t trying to trick us into thinking we’re seeing reality; it’s all about the surface, the texture of the cut wood, the way the ink sits on the paper. I can almost feel the knife cutting into the block. This reminds me a little of Matisse, someone else who understood the power of simple shapes and bold lines. And like Matisse, de Mesquita invites us to get lost in the pleasure of looking, to revel in the beauty of the everyday. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, but about opening up possibilities.