Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Fantasie: kop - Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A striking 1930 woodcut by Dutch artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, featuring a stylized, mask-like head rendered in bold, rhythmic black and white lines.
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist known for his mastery of the woodcut medium. His work often explored the boundaries between naturalism and abstraction, frequently employing a stark, high-contrast aesthetic that prioritises form over literal representation. This piece, titled Fantasie: kop, is a characteristic example of his approach to portraiture during the early twentieth century.
The composition is defined by a bold, reductive technique. De Mesquita carves the image into the woodblock, leaving large areas of the surface untouched to create deep, solid black voids. The subject is rendered through a series of rhythmic, horizontal white lines that emerge from the darkness. These lines delineate the facial features, including the almond-shaped eyes and the suggestion of a head covering or hat. The result is a mask-like visage that feels both ancient and modern, stripped of extraneous detail to focus on the essential geometry of the human face.
De Mesquita was a significant figure in the Dutch art scene, teaching at the School for Applied Arts in Haarlem and influencing many younger artists, including M.C. Escher. His prints often display a fascination with the grotesque and the exotic, drawing inspiration from non-Western art forms and the expressive potential of the woodcut process. The deliberate, repetitive nature of the carving marks creates a texture that is both mechanical and deeply personal. By limiting his palette to black and white, the artist forces the viewer to engage with the structural integrity of the image. This print is a study in economy, demonstrating how a few well-placed incisions can convey a sense of character and presence. It remains a compelling example of the graphic power inherent in the woodcut tradition, reflecting the artist's technical precision and his interest in the psychological depth of the human form.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Fantasie: kop - Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Samuel Jessurun De Mesquita
After the Nazis deported De Mesquita and his family in February 1944, M.C. Escher went to his teacher's ransacked house and rescued as much of his work as he could. Some of the prints Escher saved still bear the muddy boot prints of German soldiers. De Mesquita, his wife Elisabeth and their son Jaap all died in the camps.
He was born in Amsterdam in 1868, of Portuguese Sephardic Jewish origin. He trained there and was appointed teacher at the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem in 1902, where he remained until 1926. Escher was his most famous student; it was De Mesquita who convinced the young Escher to abandon architecture for graphic arts, a decision that changed twentieth-century visual culture.
De Mesquita produced over four hundred prints, including woodcuts, wood engravings, etchings and lithographs, plus drawings and textile designs. His animal and bird woodcuts, with their stark black-and-white stylisation influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e, are among his most distinctive work. He was not religiously observant despite his Sephardic community background. His wife Elisabeth was gassed alongside him at Auschwitz; their son Jaap perished at Theresienstadt a month later. He died at Auschwitz, around 11 February 1944, at seventy-five.
He was born in Amsterdam in 1868, of Portuguese Sephardic Jewish origin. He trained there and was appointed teacher at the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem in 1902, where he remained until 1926. Escher was his most famous student; it was De Mesquita who convinced the young Escher to abandon architecture for graphic arts, a decision that changed twentieth-century visual culture.
De Mesquita produced over four hundred prints, including woodcuts, wood engravings, etchings and lithographs, plus drawings and textile designs. His animal and bird woodcuts, with their stark black-and-white stylisation influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e, are among his most distinctive work. He was not religiously observant despite his Sephardic community background. His wife Elisabeth was gassed alongside him at Auschwitz; their son Jaap perished at Theresienstadt a month later. He died at Auschwitz, around 11 February 1944, at seventy-five.
Made to order
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Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £45
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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