A striking woodcut print of a resting blesbok, rendered with high-contrast forms and precise, rhythmic hatching by Dutch artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita.

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a Dutch graphic artist known for his mastery of the woodcut medium. His work often focused on the natural world, particularly animals, which he rendered with a distinct sense of graphic economy and structural clarity. This print of a blesbok displays his characteristic approach to form and negative space. The animal is depicted in a resting position, contained within a stark, oval-shaped ground that separates the subject from the surrounding dark field.

De Mesquita utilised the woodcut technique to create high-contrast imagery. He employed precise, rhythmic hatching to define the musculature and texture of the blesbok's coat, while the horns are delineated with sharp, rhythmic marks that suggest their ridged structure. The composition is deliberately flattened, prioritising the silhouette and the interplay between the light-coloured ground and the dark, solid mass of the animal. By stripping away extraneous detail, the artist directs the viewer's attention to the essential geometry of the creature.

Throughout his career, de Mesquita remained dedicated to the graphic arts, producing numerous prints that explored the expressive potential of black and white. His style is marked by a balance between observation and stylisation. This piece reflects his ability to capture the essence of his subject through minimal means, a hallmark of his contribution to early twentieth-century Dutch printmaking. The work is a clear example of his technical proficiency, demonstrating how he manipulated the woodblock to achieve clean edges and controlled tonal variations. It remains a representative example of his focus on animal subjects, which he studied with both scientific interest and artistic intent.