Mannenkop met snor en baard in profiel naar rechts Possibly 1943

Here we see Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita’s drawing of a man's head with moustache and beard in profile made with pen and ink on paper. The drawing is very graphic, made of simplified, almost cartoonish shapes. The shading on the back of the head is created by hundreds of tiny, comma-like marks. What I love about this piece is its directness. The shapes are confident and economical, almost like a paper cut-out. There’s no fussiness, no attempt to hide the hand of the artist. It's there in every line. The way the beard is rendered as a zig zag pattern is particularly charming! The artist is clearly enjoying the process of reducing a complex form to its most basic elements, while still maintaining its character and presence. This reminds me of Matisse’s line drawings; both artists have a similar interest in the power of simple lines to convey complex information. Ultimately, this drawing is a reminder that art is not about perfection, but about the artist's unique way of seeing and interpreting the world.