Portret van Maurits van der Valk 1918

"Portret van Maurits van der Valk," a 1918 woodcut by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, depicts a man sitting in a chair with his hands clasped in his lap, his gaze directed towards the viewer. The work, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a fine example of Jessurun de Mesquita’s signature style, known for its stark black and white contrasts and intricate detail. The textured lines of the wooden paneling and patterned wallpaper behind the figure create a sense of depth and atmosphere, emphasizing the subject’s presence and the artist’s mastery of the medium.