Hoofd, in profiel naar links 1878 - 1944

This head in profile, facing left, was made by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, using pen and ink. De Mesquita’s art is all about the line, isn’t it? That dark, unwavering line that confidently traces the outline of a head. Look at how the ink sits on the paper, and the thinness of the line, it’s almost like a delicate wire. There’s a sense of immediacy, a quickness of hand, as if de Mesquita is trying to capture a fleeting thought. It's interesting that the artist does not blend the lines so the work is not totally realistic and has an abstract quality. The simplicity of the drawing and its muted color palette really speaks to me. It reminds me of some of Modigliani’s portraits, with their elongated faces and dreamy expressions. But unlike Modigliani, de Mesquita has a rawness to his work, an unpolished quality that I find very appealing. It’s like he’s inviting us into his process, letting us see the bare bones of his vision. This piece is so simple, so direct, that it feels incredibly intimate.