Twee staande vrouwen 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of two standing women with pencil on paper, though we don't know exactly when. What strikes me about this work is the economy of means, just a few lines used to create a feeling. You get the sense that the artist is searching, that it's about the movement of the hand and the pressure of the graphite on the paper as much as it is about representation. The paper itself has a delicate, almost translucent quality. Look at the lines, how they vary in thickness, sometimes barely visible and other times bold and assertive. This gives the figures a sense of depth and presence. I’m drawn to the face of the woman on the right, the way her features are simplified, almost mask-like, yet still expressive. The single line that defines the side of her face and then becomes a tear is a striking and memorable gesture. Gestel reminds me of Modigliani, with his elongated figures and interest in rendering the human form in a simplified, almost abstract way. Ultimately, art is a conversation across time, where artists respond to and build upon the ideas of those who came before them.