Egret

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita may be best known as the teacher of the better known M.C. Escher, however, in his own right, Mesquita was one of the more significant and highly original artists working in turn-of-the-century Holland. He produced over 400 prints in addition to numerous drawings. The majestic Egret is one of numerous images of animals and in particular birds that he created over the course of his career in his trademark woodcut style comprising stylized forms in stark black and white.

De Mesquita was of Portuguese Jewish origin and he and his family were deported and murdered in Auschwitz. His student Escher wrote letters to ask for their release. He also saved works from the artist's studio after it had been ransacked by the Germans