Karikatuur van Pierre Renaudel 1934 - 1936

Leo Gestel dashed off this caricature of Pierre Renaudel with pen and ink, and it's all about the line, right? It's the quick take, the gestural jab at a personality. Look at the way he suggests form with these frantic, almost scribbled lines. There's something brutal about it, but also playful. The cross-hatching on the arm, for instance, it’s like he’s itching to get the likeness down, not to fuss over details. It reminds me of Grosz, or maybe even some of those proto-expressionist guys. The energy in this drawing is undeniable, and it's all about mark-making as a kind of performance. It's like Gestel's saying, "I see you, Renaudel, and here's what you look like in my head." It’s a fleeting impression, captured with incredible economy, and that’s what makes it so compelling. It captures the essence of caricature as a form: quick, dirty, and insightful.