Portrait of Betsie Jessurun de Mesquita-Pinédo, Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, c. 1920
paper, h 590mm × w 418mm More details
De Mesquita’s wife Betsie was a beloved subject and therefore appears frequently in his work. She was born Elisabeth Pinedo. Because of their Sephardic, almost noble, background, Samuel and Betsie believed they were in less danger and did not go into hiding. After being arrested, they were deported to Auschwitz and murdered on the same day shortly upon arriving there.
