Aristotle's Deer
Woodcut, 1925, van Es H118, only 14 impressions have been located. 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 in. Signed in pencil within the image, upper right corner. This is a fine impression printed on thin Japanese paper. The margins are wide if not full. The condition is fine. This large work exemplifies Mesquita's bold sense of design and his quest for simplicity. Like most of the artist's prints this work is rare.
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Cactus with Self Portrait (Cactus met Zelfportret)
Woodcut, 1926-29, Van Es H120, only 18 other impressions are known and referenced in the catalogue. 15 x 8 1/2 in. Signed in pencil, lower right. This is a superb, rich impression printed on very thin Japanese paper. The margins are wide and probably full. The condition is very good apart from some wrinkling in the upper margin near the edge of the sheet. Mesquita produced a substantial number of self portraits and this is one of finest. For most of his prints, the editions are small and many works were destroyed when his studio was ransacked by the Nazis. His life, and that of his wife, Elisabeth, ended in Auschwitz.
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Extase
Color woodcut printed on thin japanese paper, 1914, edition probably fewer than fifty. 12 5/8 x 5 1/2 in. Signed in pencil. The margins are substantial but somewhat trimmed. An unusual color variant for this print. Mesquita was M.C. Escher's teacher and friend.
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Extasy (Extase)
Woodcut, 1922, van Es H102 (iv or v/V); the catalogue lists only 16 known impressions. 12 5/8 x 5 1/2 in. Signed in pencil, lower right. A superb impression printed on very thin cream Japanese paper. The margins appear to be full but are uneven on the top and bottom. There's a trace of old hinges at the top corners, verso. Stylistically, this engaging work has an art nouveau look and symbolist overtones. The female figure is a favorite subject of the artist and this is a very fine example. The vast majority of Mesquita's prints exist in editions of twenty or fewer impressions.
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Floral Abstraction
Woodcut printed on very thin Japanese paper, 1933, edition unknown but certainly quite small. 7 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. Signed and dated in pencil. A superb impression of this rare print. Fine condition. An exceptional example of art as decoration. This is an underlying theme of early 20th century Dutch graphic and applied arts.
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Horse and Cart (Huifkar)
Woodcut, 1925, van Es H119 (i/II); from a very small edition (the catalogue lists only two known impressions). 8 x 9 15/16 in. Signed and dated in pencil. This is a fine, rich impression printed on thin Japanese paper. The margins are wide and probably full. The condition is fine apart from occasional subtle rippling in the sheet due to the printing process and thinness of the paper. This beautifully designed woodcut is extremely rare with two impressions listed; one in each of the two states and now this first state impression.
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Masked Woman with a Cape (Gemaskerde vrouw met cape)
Woodcut, circa 1899, van Es H 009, edition unknown. 11 1/2 x 8 in. Initialed in the block, upper right. Signed in pencil. This is a superb impression of this extremely rare print. Printed on a light gray paper like other early woodcuts by the artist, there are only three other impressions cited in the catalogue. The condition is fine. The margins are trimmed to the image and there's an archival support sheet attached along the edges of the print on the edges, verso, done by a European conservator. This beautifully designed art nouveau image shows the influence of Félix Vallotton.
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Paaschduin (Holland)
Woodcut, 1928, Van Es H 136 (i(?)/V); edition at least 7. 9 x 21 3/4 in. Signed and dated in pencil and inscribed "1st druk" (first impression). This is a superb impression printed on tissue-thin Japanese paper and touched with blue watercolor in the sky. The margins are full but irregular at the right side and lower right corner. The condition is very good overall. Mesquita produced very few landscapes and this is the best. His sense of humor and flair for fantastic depictions of the human figure surface here with the two faces depicted in the clouds. The recently published catalogue raisonne lists only six known impressions apart from this one. Provenance: Private collection, Amsterdam.
SOLD