Vrouw met een knot op het hoofd en gesloten ogen Possibly 1943

This pen and ink drawing, "Vrouw met een knot op het hoofd en gesloten ogen" or "Woman with a bun on her head and closed eyes," was made on December 29th, 1943, by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. The lines here are so economical. The woman’s face is rendered with a simple and unwavering line, and it's so evocative. It reminds me that sometimes the fewest marks can say the most. The whole thing feels like a quick sketch, a fleeting impression. Look how the texture of the hair is implied with just a few carefully placed strokes. It’s not about perfection; it’s about capturing the essence. The closed eyes invite us into a space of introspection and reverie. It’s such a personal and intimate portrayal and makes me think about other artists who worked with a similarly pared-down style, like Matisse. Art is always a conversation, right?