Kussend stel 1891 - 1941

Curator: This drawing, simply titled "Kussend stel," which translates to "Kissing Couple," is attributed to Leo Gestel. Its creation is dated sometime between 1891 and 1941, and it's part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. It's executed in pencil, a rather humble choice for portraying intimacy. Editor: Humble, perhaps, but incredibly raw. My immediate impression is one of vulnerability. The lines are so spare, almost hesitant, yet they capture a profound sense of closeness, a shared breath perhaps. Curator: Exactly. Gestel's choice of a simple pencil sketch is particularly potent. Think about the implications: is it a quick study, an intimate observation snatched from everyday life, or a preliminary sketch for something grander? What assumptions does it reveal of the social context of the day regarding freedom to show emotion and to represent identity on paper? Editor: I find myself wondering about the paper itself. The tooth of it, the way the pencil marks sit on the surface – it speaks to a specific materiality. Was this inexpensive sketching paper? Was it readily available to the artist? The kind of paper used certainly influences the line quality, and ultimately, how we read the embrace itself. Also, considering it's from a sketchbook, this makes me wonder if the final product was really meant for an audience. Curator: It also forces us to consider the potential constraints placed on the queer community. If this drawing had circulated more widely during that period, how might its reception have impacted Gestel's career or even the lives of the individuals depicted? Were they free to express this love publicly, or was it confined to the pages of a private sketchbook, hidden from judgmental eyes? Editor: That tension between privacy and the desire for expression – it's right there in the tentative lines, isn't it? There’s nothing finished, highly crafted or labored. I appreciate how it lays bare the physical act of making a tender moment in graphite and cellulose. Curator: It speaks volumes about the sociopolitical climate of the time and resonates today. Thinking about issues of queer visibility and artistic freedom… It really makes one consider the personal sacrifices often interwoven with public displays of affection. Editor: Indeed. It pushes us to look beyond just the representation of figures; It makes us question all the social, material processes, and relations involved in creating the work and maintaining the world to which it belongs. Curator: Thank you. That truly broadens my reading of "Kissing Couple," seeing its tender lines not just as an embrace but as a quiet assertion of identity and artistic liberty. Editor: Thanks. Examining process is just another route into discovering where truth is located and how that informs experience and material engagement in the work and in life.