Een schelp, op de bolling liggend 1911

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita made this etching of a shell sometime in the early 20th century. Mesquita, a Jewish artist working in the Netherlands, employed an illustrative style, yet one that reflects his cultural and social context. The shell, meticulously rendered, is set against an abstracted background. The piece evokes the artist's exploration of form and texture. During this period, the Netherlands saw a rise in artistic experimentation, influenced by European modernism, but also the expression of a unique cultural identity. Mesquita's work navigates the complex socio-political landscape of his time. His life was tragically cut short during the Holocaust, highlighting the vulnerability of artists in the face of oppressive regimes. The Rijksmuseum's collection provides vital resources for understanding the social conditions that shaped Mesquita's artistic production. By studying historical documents, letters, and exhibition records, we can contextualize Mesquita's art within the broader narrative of early 20th-century European history, and reflect on the meaning of art as contingent on its social and institutional context.