Hoofd van een vrouw 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, Head of a Woman, with pen and ink on paper. The stark simplicity of the drawing almost resembles a product label, something that could be printed on a mass scale. The image gains its power not just from the artist's hand, but also from the broader world of commercial graphics. The application of ink on paper, in a singular motion, becomes a metaphor for the streamlined, efficient processes that define modern industry. This was a time when artists often turned to everyday, common materials, in the hopes of bridging the gap between art and life. Seen in this light, the drawing encourages us to reflect on the nature of labor, and the ever increasing presence of mechanization in our lives. By blurring the boundaries between fine art and commercial production, Gestel prompts us to consider the social and economic forces that shape our visual world.