Vrouw met doos of mand c. 1900

This is ‘Woman with Box or Basket,’ a print made by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. A Jewish artist in the Netherlands, Mesquita's life and work were deeply affected by the rise of fascism in Europe. The print depicts a woman, modestly dressed and carrying a box or basket. Consider how Mesquita portrays her: is she a specific individual, or does she represent a type, maybe the working woman? Mesquita, as a Sephardic Jew, was part of a community with its own distinct history and identity. How might his background have influenced his representation of women? Perhaps he was interested in portraying the dignity of everyday life, the quiet strength of women in a rapidly changing world. The stark contrasts and simplified forms give the print a sense of quiet contemplation. This image, made by an artist who would later be murdered in Auschwitz, invites us to reflect on the intersection of identity, history, and art.