Sabelantilope 1927

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's 'Sabelantilope,' now at the Rijksmuseum, is a monochrome world carved in wood. It's like the artist chipped away at the surface, revealing the animal form. The print is so graphic, a back and forth between stark black and white. You can feel the pressure of the artist's hand on the blade, each line a decisive mark. The white stripes create a curious rhythm across the animal's body, meeting the vertical lines that frame the lower section of the artwork. The animal seems suspended and still. I wonder what de Mesquita was thinking about when he made this piece. It has a very modern sensibility. I like the idea that artists, like these animals in the wild, find a way to adapt to their environment, to take what's around them and make something new. I think it’s a reminder that art is always evolving, always finding new ways to express what it means to be alive.