Sneeuwuil (Snowy Owl) - Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita
Archival giclée
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Description
A striking woodcut print of a snowy owl by Dutch artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, featuring bold graphic lines and high-contrast composition.
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist known for his mastery of the woodcut medium. His work often focused on animal subjects, rendered with a distinct sense of economy and graphic clarity. This print, Sneeuwuil, demonstrates his ability to reduce a complex natural form into a series of bold, rhythmic shapes. The snowy owl is depicted in profile, its head turned slightly, with the plumage suggested through controlled, repetitive marks that follow the contours of the bird's body.
The composition relies on a stark contrast between the dark, solid background and the light, unprinted paper of the owl. De Mesquita avoids unnecessary detail, choosing instead to focus on the essential geometry of the subject. The horizontal lines that frame the owl provide a sense of stability, grounding the figure within the rectangular space. This approach reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock printing, which was a significant interest for many European artists during the early twentieth century.
De Mesquita's technique involves precise carving, where the white areas are cut away to leave the dark ink to define the form. The feathers are represented by short, parallel incisions, creating a texture that feels both stylised and accurate to the bird's appearance. The result is a work that balances decorative pattern with a keen observation of nature. By stripping away the extraneous, the artist directs the viewer's attention to the posture and silhouette of the owl. This print is a clear example of his technical skill and his preference for clean, graphic lines over painterly effects. It remains a representative piece of his output, showing the quiet, observational quality that defined his career as a printmaker.
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
Sneeuwuil (Snowy Owl) - Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita
Artist Biography
Samuel Jessurun De Mesquita
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.
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