Raderboot (bovenste blad) 1883 - 1942

This paddle steamer was captured by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita with pen and ink, using a highly structured approach. The grid he’s employed is not just a compositional aid; it’s an active participant in the image. Look at how the ship is dissected, its form broken down and reassembled within the confines of each square. The materiality is stark, but the ink has a fluid quality as it delineates the waves and riggings. See the way the flags in the squares dance around the ship and how the lines are hatched and cross-hatched to give depth. It’s like a conversation between control and chaos, a dance between the rigidity of the grid and the unruly nature of the sea. De Mesquita reminds me a little of Alfred Kubin, both artists sharing a penchant for the grotesque and a mastery of graphic techniques. This piece isn’t just a depiction of a boat; it’s a meditation on structure, freedom, and the artist’s hand.