Portret van een jonge vrouw 1918

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this portrait of a young woman with graphite on paper. See how Mesquita coaxes a range of tones and textures from this simple material? The grainy surface of the paper and the soft, smudged graphite create a hazy, dreamlike effect. The artist's hand is evident in every stroke, from the delicate lines that define the woman's features to the broader, more expressive marks that suggest the folds of her clothing. Graphite, though commonplace, has a unique capacity for capturing light and shadow, lending itself to both precision and improvisation. The immediacy of drawing allows the artist to record a fleeting impression, a momentary glimpse of his subject. In this work, Mesquita elevates a humble medium to create a timeless image of quiet contemplation. It reminds us that art isn't always about complexity or grandeur, but about the artist's vision.