Mannenkop 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing with ink on paper. Just look at the bold, confident lines that make up this head. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving quickly, decisively across the paper. I wonder what Gestel was thinking about as he worked. Was he trying to capture the essence of this person's character, or was he more interested in the play of light and shadow on his face? There’s something raw and immediate about the way Gestel has used ink. Each stroke feels so intentional, so full of energy. I'm really drawn to the way he’s suggested the texture of the hair with these quick, scribbled marks. You get a sense of the artist really grappling with the medium, pushing it to its limits. This piece feels like a conversation—Gestel is in dialogue with the subject, with the materials, and with the history of portraiture itself. It's like he's inviting us to join in, to bring our own perspectives and experiences to the mix.