Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita was a prominent Dutch graphic artist, born in 1868. He was active in the art world during the years leading up to the Second World War, leaving a lasting impact on the field. As an educator, de Mesquita played a significant role in shaping the skills of future artists, most notably the renowned graphic artist M.C. Escher, who was among his pupils.

De Mesquita's life took a tragic turn in his later years. As a Sephardic Jew, he was targeted by the Nazis and ultimately sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. It was there that he met his demise, succumbing to the brutal conditions and being gassed, a fate shared by his wife. De Mesquita's death in 1944 serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of the war and the persecution of Jewish communities during that time.