Twee duiven 1931

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this print of Two Doves, we don't know exactly when, but we do know that it was made with black ink on paper. This print is a study in contrasts. The birds are dark and blocky, and the background is a simple, curved shape. Look at how the artist uses the negative space to create the image. The birds are defined by the absence of ink. It’s like the image is emerging from the darkness. The texture looks smooth, almost like velvet. I imagine that the artist used a very sharp tool to create the fine lines of the feathers. Each mark feels deliberate, like a decision. It's easy to imagine the artist working in a quiet studio, carefully carving away at the block of wood, revealing the image bit by bit. It makes me think of other artists who've explored the relationship between positive and negative space, like MC Escher. But where Escher is playful, this feels more serious, more solemn. Ultimately, this print is a testament to the power of simplicity.