Lezen (Liggend naakt, een boek lezend) (1913)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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Welcome to a serene and contemplative scene set by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita in his striking 1913 woodcut titled "Lezen (Liggend naakt, een boek lezend)" which translates to "Reading (Reclining Nude, Reading a Book)." This artwork beautifully captures the timeless beauty of a solitary figure engaged in reading.The composition is both simple and intricate, featuring a nude woman lying on a plush, dark surface, deeply engrossed in a large open book. The room is delineated by a highly decorative, geometrically patterned background, creating a stark contrast with the smooth, flowing lines of the figure's body. This juxtaposition not only emphasizes the soft contours of the human form but also enhances the intimate and quiet atmosphere of the scene.The attention to detail in the patterns surrounding the figure and the careful rendering of the book's pages suggest a space where intellect and leisure combine, inviting viewers to ponder not just the form, but also the mind of the subject.
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Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist active in the years before the Second World War. His pupils included graphic artist M. C. Escher (1898–1972). A Sephardic Jew, in his old age he was sent to Auschwitz by the Nazis, where he was gassed along with his wife. After the war, de Mesquita was largely forgotten.