Lezen (Liggend naakt, een boek lezend) 1913

"Lezen (Liggend naakt, een boek lezend)" (1913) by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita is a woodcut depicting a nude woman lying on a bed, engrossed in a book. The simplified forms and bold black lines characteristic of the Art Nouveau style are evident in the woman's body and the intricate patterns of the bed's headboard. The woodcut's flatness and the emphasis on the decorative pattern evoke a sense of tranquility. This work, now in the Rijksmuseum, showcases the artistic skill of Jessurun de Mesquita, who was a leading figure in the revival of woodcut printing in the early 20th century.