Gemaskerde vrouw met cape c. 1899

This is Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's woodcut print, depicting a masked woman with a cape. Notice the striking use of black ink against the lighter background, creating a dramatic contrast. The composition is dominated by the figure, whose ornate cape and mask immediately capture our attention. The intricate patterns on the cape contrast with the smooth, dark mask, drawing our eye to the sitter's gaze, which peers out from behind the disguise. The use of woodcut technique lends the image a rough, textured quality, emphasizing the materiality of the print. Mesquita's choice of subject matter and stylistic approach invites us to consider the themes of identity, representation, and the interplay between concealment and revelation. The mask and cape serve as a visual metaphor for the constructed nature of identity, challenging fixed notions of selfhood. The print is an exploration of form and surface, prompting us to consider the complex relationship between appearance and reality. The artwork destabilizes established meanings, and engages with new ways of thinking about representation.