Profiel van een vrouw, naar links 1921

Curator: What a strikingly modern etching. It's titled "Profile of a Woman, Facing Left," dating to 1921, and was created by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. Editor: Angular, intense. I’m immediately drawn to the density of the cross-hatching—it feels almost like she’s trapped behind a screen or veil of social expectations. Curator: Interesting interpretation. De Mesquita, though lesser known, moved in circles that included artists like M.C. Escher, and you see a similar fascination with geometric patterns here. The sitter’s features are distilled into a series of planes and lines, embodying that Art Deco aesthetic that embraced clean lines and abstraction. Editor: Absolutely. But that almost aggressive simplification also feels charged. The hat is a cage, and the buttoned collar constricts. I read it as commentary on the roles and restrictions placed on women during that period. Curator: I see your point. It also prompts me to wonder, who *was* she? This wasn't a commissioned portrait; de Mesquita seemed interested in portraying types, almost as sociological studies, reducing her individual identity. It definitely embodies broader discussions about how the rise of modernity was changing social identities. Editor: That tension between individual and type is potent. He’s reduced her to form, but it’s still a portrait, which traditionally celebrated individuality. That push-and-pull elevates it beyond just an aesthetic exercise. Is there also possibly a symbolist intent? She's looking outside. Curator: Well, his influences range broadly. Given the date, 1921, this print falls late in his career, with clear experimentation in etching and his use of simplification is remarkable. Editor: A curious and multifaceted work indeed. I walked in seeing a constricted image of womanhood, and leave thinking more about society and artistic form. Curator: A concise summation that invites repeated viewings and fresh interpretations. Its simplicity masks significant social complexities.