Fantasie: twee kaders, in elk een profiel naar rechts (en in het linkerkader twee kleinere profielen naar links) 1920

Editor: This is Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's "Fantasie: twee kaders..." created around 1920. It's an etching, and the portraits feel very contained, almost trapped, by the heavy frames around them. What strikes you most about this print? Curator: The way Mesquita plays with framing is really compelling, especially when we consider the social context of the time. Etchings allowed for wider distribution, potentially bringing portraits of marginalized figures into more homes. Do you notice the stark contrast in representation between the two figures? Editor: I do. The figure on the left seems softer, more traditionally drawn, while the right is bolder, more angular, almost abstract. Curator: Exactly! It makes you wonder about the artist’s intent. How do these contrasting styles reflect the varying social positions and experiences of these figures, considering Mesquita's own background as a Sephardic Jew in a time of rising antisemitism and social upheaval? What statement do you think the artist is making by displaying these individuals in this way? Editor: Perhaps the contrast underscores how different identities were being perceived and categorized at the time. Maybe it is his reflection on the effects of imposed identity and how one portrays oneself to the outer world? Curator: Precisely! And consider how printmaking itself democratized art, allowing for wider access and challenging traditional portraiture's exclusivity. Editor: This really sheds light on how artistic choices can be read as social commentary, I never thought of it like that. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely! Art can be a powerful medium for raising consciousness and creating community through shared perspectives.