Fantasie: links twee figuren met mutsen op naar rechts, rechts een ingekraste verschijning met verenkleed 1919

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this lithograph called Fantasie in the early 20th century. Look at the faces of these characters! The marks feel so fresh and raw, like he was just trying to get something down, figure it out as he went along. That's how I like to paint, too - start with a feeling and let the process guide you. The physicality of lithography is on full display here. The ink sits right on the surface of the paper, almost velvety. See how he uses these thick, dark lines to define the figures, but then scratches away to create these feathered textures? It's like he's wrestling with the medium. There’s something about the figure on the right, its feathery lines giving it an otherworldly presence, like some sort of spirit or angel. De Mesquita, like Emil Nolde, seemed interested in the darker side of human nature. But, ultimately, this piece feels more like a playful exploration than a definitive statement. It reminds us that art is a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist, the materials, and the viewer, where meaning is always fluid and up for grabs.