Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (6 June 1868 – c. 11 February 1944) was a Dutch graphic artist active in the years before the Second World War. His pupils included graphic artist M. C. Escher (1898–1972).[1] A Sephardic Jew, in his old age he was sent to Auschwitz by the Nazis, where he was gassed along with his wife.
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was born on 6 June 1868 into a Jewish family living in Amsterdam. Though a member of a tightly knit Sephardic community, a minority among Dutch Jews, de Mesquita, like most of his contemporaries, was not religiously observant. His father, a secondary school teacher of Hebrew and German, died when Sam or Sampie, as he was called, was five.[2][3]
At the age of fourteen, the young de Mesquita applied to the Rijksakademie in pursuit of his artistic interests, only to be rejected. Deeply disappointed, he apprenticed himself to an acting city architect, for whom he worked for two years before entering a technical school with the intention of becoming an architect himself. He soon turned, however, to pedagogy and, in 1889, received a teacher's certificate, which would later enable him to support his family.[2][3]
Careeredit
Heron in a cage (1915) by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita
Over the next years, de Mesquita principally devoted himself to art, experimenting with various techniques and mediums. Though known primarily for his wood engravings, he also produced etchings, lithographs, watercolors and drawings; his applied art consisted mostly of material designs. There are birds, exotic animals, plants and flowers, and fantastical representations, both humorous and grim. Among de Mesquita's most beautiful works are his portraits, particularly his self-portraits.[2][3]
de Mesquita's work was included in the 1939 exhibition and sale Onze Kunst van Heden (Our Art of Today) at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.[4]
With Nazi Germany's invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, de Mesquita, already in poor health, was forced to lead a secluded life, limiting his work largely to sketches.[2][3]
Deathedit
In the winter of 1944, on either 31 January or 1 February, the occupying German forces entered the home of the de Mesquita family in Watergraafsmeer, now part of Amsterdam, and apprehended him, his wife Elisabeth, and their only son Jaap. Transported to Auschwitz, Samuel Jessurun and Elisabeth were sent to the gas chambers within days of their arrival on 11 February; Jaap perished in the concentration camp at Theresienstadt on 20 March. Escher and some of Jaap's friends were successful in rescuing some of the works that had remained in the de Mesquita home.[2][3]
^Locher, J. L. (1974). The World of M. C. Escher. Abrams. p. 5. ISBN0-451-79961-5.
^ abcdeSamuel Jessurun de Mesquita, Nederlands: Gemeentemuseum
^ abcdeEs, Jonieke van (2005), Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (1868–1944): Tekenaar, graficus, sierkunstenaar (in Dutch), Waanders Uitgevers, Zwolle{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Onze kunst van heden, 1939 -". Beeldend BeNeLux Elektronisch (Lexicon). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
Thomas Hengstenberg (Hrsg.): Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita: Von der Linie zur Fläche., Text dt. und engl., Bönen: Kettler, 2011. ISBN978-3-86206-086-3.
External linksedit
Media related to Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita at Wikimedia Commons
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Collections on The Met
January 01, 1970
samuel, jessurun, mesquita, june, 1868, february, 1944, dutch, graphic, artist, active, years, before, second, world, pupils, included, graphic, artist, escher, 1898, 1972, sephardic, sent, auschwitz, nazis, where, gassed, along, with, wife, self, portrait, 19. Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita 6 June 1868 c 11 February 1944 was a Dutch graphic artist active in the years before the Second World War His pupils included graphic artist M C Escher 1898 1972 1 A Sephardic Jew in his old age he was sent to Auschwitz by the Nazis where he was gassed along with his wife Samuel Jessurun de MesquitaSelf portrait 1900Born 1868 06 06 6 June 1868Amsterdam NetherlandsDiedc 11 February 1944 1944 02 11 aged 75 Auschwitz Birkenau German occupied Poland Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Death 4 Covers for Wendingen 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editSamuel Jessurun de Mesquita was born on 6 June 1868 into a Jewish family living in Amsterdam Though a member of a tightly knit Sephardic community a minority among Dutch Jews de Mesquita like most of his contemporaries was not religiously observant His father a secondary school teacher of Hebrew and German died when Sam or Sampie as he was called was five 2 3 At the age of fourteen the young de Mesquita applied to the Rijksakademie in pursuit of his artistic interests only to be rejected Deeply disappointed he apprenticed himself to an acting city architect for whom he worked for two years before entering a technical school with the intention of becoming an architect himself He soon turned however to pedagogy and in 1889 received a teacher s certificate which would later enable him to support his family 2 3 Career edit nbsp Heron in a cage 1915 by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Over the next years de Mesquita principally devoted himself to art experimenting with various techniques and mediums Though known primarily for his wood engravings he also produced etchings lithographs watercolors and drawings his applied art consisted mostly of material designs There are birds exotic animals plants and flowers and fantastical representations both humorous and grim Among de Mesquita s most beautiful works are his portraits particularly his self portraits 2 3 de Mesquita s work was included in the 1939 exhibition and sale Onze Kunst van Heden Our Art of Today at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam 4 With Nazi Germany s invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940 de Mesquita already in poor health was forced to lead a secluded life limiting his work largely to sketches 2 3 Death editIn the winter of 1944 on either 31 January or 1 February the occupying German forces entered the home of the de Mesquita family in Watergraafsmeer now part of Amsterdam and apprehended him his wife Elisabeth and their only son Jaap Transported to Auschwitz Samuel Jessurun and Elisabeth were sent to the gas chambers within days of their arrival on 11 February Jaap perished in the concentration camp at Theresienstadt on 20 March Escher and some of Jaap s friends were successful in rescuing some of the works that had remained in the de Mesquita home 2 3 Covers for Wendingen edit nbsp 1925 nbsp 1927 nbsp 1929 nbsp 1931References edit Locher J L 1974 The World of M C Escher Abrams p 5 ISBN 0 451 79961 5 a b c d e Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Nederlands Gemeentemuseum a b c d e Es Jonieke van 2005 Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita 1868 1944 Tekenaar graficus sierkunstenaar in Dutch Waanders Uitgevers Zwolle a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Onze kunst van heden 1939 Beeldend BeNeLux Elektronisch Lexicon Retrieved 9 January 2021 Thomas Hengstenberg Hrsg Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Von der Linie zur Flache Text dt und engl Bonen Kettler 2011 ISBN 978 3 86206 086 3 External links edit nbsp Media related to Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita at Wikimedia Commons Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Collections on The Met Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita amp oldid 1218452398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
