Haai 1878 - 1944

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita created this artwork, "Haai," using an engraving technique on a metal plate. Instead of traditional art materials, the artist chose an industrial material, brass. The flat, reflective surface gives the fish a metallic sheen, accentuating its sharp teeth and predatory gaze, and the artist likely used etching tools to carefully carve the image into the plate, revealing a contrast between the incised lines and the smooth surface of the metal. This adds a tactile quality to the work, engaging with the traditional craft of printmaking. The choice of material carries social significance, nodding to industrialization and the value we place on durability. The labor involved in carefully engraving the image is evident in the precision of the lines. This challenges traditional boundaries between fine art and craft by bringing the artistry of printmaking to the forefront, asking us to consider the cultural and social meaning embedded in materials and process.