{"product_id":"zelfportret-met-cactus-samuel-jessurun-de-mesquita","title":"Zelfportret met cactus - Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1926 woodcut self-portrait by Dutch artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, featuring bold graphic lines and a stylised botanical element.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSamuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist known for his technical precision and distinctive use of the woodcut medium. This self-portrait, executed in 1926, demonstrates his ability to combine stark geometric forms with personal observation. The composition is structured around a central vertical axis, where the artist depicts himself positioned beneath a large, stylised cactus. The contrast between the solid black ink and the cream paper creates a graphic clarity typical of his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artist employs a grid pattern behind his head, which serves to flatten the pictorial space and draw attention to the linear qualities of the portrait. His facial features are rendered with minimal, deliberate strokes, conveying a sense of detachment. The cactus, rendered in bold, dark shapes, looms over the figure, creating an unusual juxtaposition between the human subject and the botanical element. This choice of subject matter reflects his interest in natural forms, which he often abstracted to suit the requirements of the woodblock printing process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDe Mesquita was a teacher at the School of Decorative Arts in Haarlem, and his influence on younger artists, including M.C. Escher, is well documented. His approach to printmaking favoured economy of line and a rigorous control of the printing surface. This work is an example of his mature style, where the decorative potential of the woodcut is balanced with a psychological intensity. The framing of the image, with its thick borders, reinforces the self-contained nature of the scene. By isolating the subject within this rigid frame, the artist invites the viewer to focus on the interplay of shape and shadow. The work remains a clear representation of his technical mastery and his unique visual language within the Dutch art scene of the early twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/products\/portrait-of-a-man-m-c-escher-m-c-escher\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of a Man (M.C. Escher) by M.C. Escher\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/products\/russell-sage-william-nicholson\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eRussell Sage by William Nicholson\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/collections\/samuel-jessurun-de-mesquita\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMore by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59502281589071,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59502281916751,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59502281949519,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59502281982287,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59502282015055,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59502282047823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59502282080591,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59502282113359,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59502282146127,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59502282178895,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59502282211663,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59502282244431,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Zelfportret-met-cactus_Poster_CompositorV1_1794618087893.jpg?v=1794618143","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/nl\/products\/zelfportret-met-cactus-samuel-jessurun-de-mesquita","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}