Antropomorf figuur in profiel naar rechts met een slang Possibly 1943

Curator: Let's delve into this intriguing sketch, "Antropomorf figuur in profiel naar rechts met een slang," or "Anthropomorphic figure in profile to the right with a snake" by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, possibly created in 1943. It's a pen and ink drawing currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes you immediately about it? Editor: Well, the starkness is quite arresting. It has a peculiar sense of detachment, a coldness, despite the figure itself appearing quite surreal and vulnerable lying there exposed, its skeleton visible in its arm. It is also curious, the drawing feels unfinished or more like a starting point. Curator: Indeed. Mesquita was a printmaker and graphic artist known for his woodcuts and lithographs. This ink drawing gives us a glimpse into the process. The contrast in textures, from the patterned clothing to the stark skeletal hand, hints at the experimentation that pen and ink afforded him. Editor: The patterned sleeves do offer some symbolic fodder; Polka dots might represent falseness, like the clothes hide the skeleton beneath? As for the snake, It is not obvious if it protects or threatens. And a question: Was there anything remarkable about the paper itself? Curator: The availability of art supplies would certainly have shifted during the time of the second World War, no doubt influencing his artistic choices and even the scale of his work. But yes, those symbols! A snake is such a potent symbol of change and transformation. And you are correct; is it a positive or negative presence in this vulnerable figure's world? Editor: This visual language does trigger quite a complex interplay of feelings. If it does represent change, and change for the worse, that's certainly heightened by the knowledge of what happened to the artist during that period. Curator: Exactly. Knowing that Mesquita was later deported and murdered in Auschwitz adds another layer to this image, transforming what might seem like a quirky sketch into something deeply poignant and unsettling. The contrast between the decorative elements and the stark realities he faced makes it quite remarkable as an object. Editor: The way the raw materials are so entwined with the emotional weight and the historical context...it definitely forces one to look beyond just the image itself. Thanks to that perspective, I am ready to move to the next work! Curator: An essential point. Thank you!