Reiger aan het water met twee vissen bij zijn poten 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a heron with ink on paper. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, confidently sketching out the bird's elegant form with quick, fluid lines. The heron's body is built up with simple strokes, creating a sense of volume and texture. I wonder what Gestel was thinking about as he drew, maybe how to convey the bird’s stillness and patience, capturing the way it stands so still, poised and ready to strike. The ink is applied in varying thicknesses, giving the drawing a dynamic and lively feel. It reminds me of the drawings of Matisse, that same sense of capturing a form with just a few strokes. It’s like they’re having a conversation across time, riffing off each other’s ideas. Painting and drawing—it’s all about exchange, about how we see and interpret the world.