Enkele liggende geiten 1878 - 1944

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this drawing of resting goats with brush and pen in ink. I love the way the ink washes create an almost ghostly atmosphere, blurring the line between the animals and their surroundings. The marks are so direct and economical, yet they manage to convey the weight and texture of the goats' bodies. Notice the contrast between the solid blacks and the translucent grays, the push and pull creating a real sense of depth. The way the dark ink bleeds into the paper, it's like the drawing is still in process, still becoming. That heavy block of black behind the goat on the right creates an amazing sense of tension. It's almost like the goat is trapped, or pinned down by the weight of the ink. I’m reminded of Odilon Redon’s dreamscapes. Like Redon, de Mesquita embraces ambiguity and the power of suggestion, inviting us to fill in the gaps and complete the image in our own minds.