Boekomslag van leer met geperst dessin van vissen en vlinders before 1902

This is a leather book cover with pressed designs of fish and butterflies by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. I see the artist's hand working into the leather, pressing and shaping, and feel the delicate textures. The fish are stylized, almost geometric, with radiating lines that suggest movement or energy. I imagine Mesquita thinking about how the cover feels in your hands and how the imagery invites you into the pages within. I feel like Mesquita probably knew about art nouveau and Japanese prints! There's a symmetry but also a kind of lively asymmetry in how the design spreads across the cover. Like a garden that’s both wild and carefully arranged. The way artists like Mesquita bring different traditions and ideas together—it’s a reminder that we’re all part of an ongoing conversation, building on what others have done. It's a really lovely expression of creativity.