Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (1868 - 1944)

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (1868 - 1944) - photo 1

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist, born on June 6, 1868, in Amsterdam, into a Sephardic Jewish family. He became well-known for his contributions to graphic art, especially in the years leading up to the Second World War, and was notable for his mentorship of the famed artist M. C. Escher. De Mesquita's work was characterized by a variety of techniques and mediums, including wood engravings, etchings, lithographs, watercolors, and drawings. His art often featured birds, exotic animals, plants, flowers, and fantastical elements, both humorous and grim, showcasing his deep experimentation and mastery over his craft​​.

His career took a significant turn around 1915 when he began to gain prominence within Dutch graphic art, partly due to his teaching positions in the field. De Mesquita's penchant for experimentation led him to explore various materials for his prints, such as marble and zinc, and he often processed his prints with other materials, resulting in unique artworks. His subjects ranged from his immediate surroundings, such as his own home or the Artis zoo in Amsterdam, to more experimental and imaginative works that included quasi-human figures and fantastical landscapes​​.

Unfortunately, de Mesquita's life and career were tragically cut short by the Holocaust. Despite friends urging him to go into hiding, Samuel and his wife believed their Sephardic heritage would protect them. This proved to be a fatal miscalculation, and on January 31, 1944, they were arrested by the Nazis and subsequently died in Auschwitz. Their son Jaap died in Theresienstadt in March of the same year. M.C. Escher, a former pupil and friend, managed to save some of de Mesquita's works after his death, preserving his legacy for future generations​​.

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's body of work is a testament to his skill and creativity, with his pieces held in collections like the Kunstmuseum Den Haag and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. His works range from serene and simple depictions of animals and plants to more complex and imaginative 'Sensitivist' drawings that evoked a unique world from the artist's imagination​​​​.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, de Mesquita's work offers a unique insight into the rich tradition of Dutch graphic arts and the avant-garde experiments of the early 20th century. His influence, particularly on M.C. Escher, highlights his importance in the development of graphic arts. Sign up for updates related to Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita to stay informed about new product sales and auction events showcasing his remarkable works.

Date and place of birt:6 june 1868, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Date and place of death:11 february 1944, Oświęcim, Poland
Nationality:Poland, The Netherlands
Period of activity: XIX, XX century
Specialization:Artist, Graphic artist
Genre:Allegory, Portrait, Self-portrait
Art style:Modern art

Creators Poland

Fritz Erler (1868 - 1940)
Fritz Erler
1868 - 1940
Appolinarius Kotovich (1859 - 1917)
Appolinarius Kotovich
1859 - 1917
Andrzej Cisowski (1962 - 2020)
Andrzej Cisowski
1962 - 2020
Waldemar Rosler (1882 - 1916)
Waldemar Rosler
1882 - 1916
Karl Friedrich Lessing (1808 - 1880)
Karl Friedrich Lessing
1808 - 1880
Aleksander Boba (1899 - 1944)
Aleksander Boba
1899 - 1944
Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805 - 1873)
Franz Xaver Winterhalter
1805 - 1873
Zbigniew Makowski (1930 - 2019)
Zbigniew Makowski
1930 - 2019
Paul Emil Gabel (1875 - 1938)
Paul Emil Gabel
1875 - 1938
Jan Graczyk (1928 - 2005)
Jan Graczyk
1928 - 2005
Kazimierz Alchimowicz (1840 - 1916)
Kazimierz Alchimowicz
1840 - 1916
Henri Hayden (1883 - 1970)
Henri Hayden
1883 - 1970
Frank Meisler (1929 - 2018)
Frank Meisler
1929 - 2018
Jozef Kosinsky (1753 - 1821)
Jozef Kosinsky
1753 - 1821
Karl Daniel Friedrich Bach (1756 - 1829)
Karl Daniel Friedrich Bach
1756 - 1829
Georg Lisiewski (1674 - 1750)
Georg Lisiewski
1674 - 1750

Creators Modern art

Hanns Pellar (1886 - 1971)
Hanns Pellar
1886 - 1971
Mahmoud Sabri (1927 - 2012)
Mahmoud Sabri
1927 - 2012
Miroslav Kraljević (1885 - 1913)
Miroslav Kraljević
1885 - 1913
Mohamed Chebaa (1935 - 2013)
Mohamed Chebaa
1935 - 2013
Alfred Tibor (1920 - 2017)
Alfred Tibor
1920 - 2017
Wilhelm Gallhof (1878 - 1918)
Wilhelm Gallhof
1878 - 1918
Pietro Chiesa (1892 - 1948)
Pietro Chiesa
1892 - 1948
Geoffroy Dauvergne (1922 - 1977)
Geoffroy Dauvergne
1922 - 1977
Paul Cézanne (1839 - 1906)
Paul Cézanne
1839 - 1906
Wucius Wong (1936)
Wucius Wong
1936
Gabriel Argy-Rousseau (1885 - 1953)
Gabriel Argy-Rousseau
1885 - 1953
Stanislav Dembitsky (1866 - 1924)
Stanislav Dembitsky
1866 - 1924
C. K. (Nair) Ra (Ramakrishnan) (1917 - 1994)
C. K. (Nair) Ra (Ramakrishnan)
1917 - 1994
Ferdinand Kitt (1887 - 1961)
Ferdinand Kitt
1887 - 1961
David Park (1911 - 1960)
David Park
1911 - 1960
Sascha Schneider (1870 - 1927)
Sascha Schneider
1870 - 1927