Uitgebloeide strelitzia (1934)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's striking woodcut, "Uitgebloeide strelitzia" (Faded Bird of Paradise), completed in 1934, portrays the captivating beauty and delicate decay of the strelitzia flower, also known as the bird of paradise. This artwork captures an ephemeral moment when the vibrant life of the flower begins to fade, symbolizing the fleeting nature of beauty and life itself.The composition is marked by stark contrasts and bold, linear details which are characteristic of De Mesquita's woodcut technique. The artist uses a monochromatic palette to enhance the dramatic interplay between light and shadow, enveloping the viewer in a quiet, introspective mood. The bird of paradise, central in the image, is depicted with its once resplendent blooms now wilted, yet it retains an undeniable elegance.Jessurun de Mesquita's work is a masterful exploration of natural forms, transforming a simple botanical study into a profound artistic statement. This piece invites viewers to contemplate the beauty in the natural cycle of life and decay, a theme that resonates universally.
Delivery
Returns
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.