Mannenkop Possibly 1943

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this linear drawing of a man’s head, here in the Rijksmuseum. I can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, sketching and searching for the right lines to capture this man’s likeness. It’s a process of building up the image, layer by layer, thought by thought. The overall effect makes me think of a topographical map. I wonder what the artist was thinking about as he worked on this piece. Was he focused on the details of the man’s face, or was he trying to capture something deeper, something about his character or his inner life? The lines around the eyes feel particularly expressive, conveying a sense of weariness or perhaps even a touch of melancholy. Looking at this drawing, I am reminded that art is not just about the finished product, but about the process of creation itself. Artists are constantly in dialogue with one another, building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.