Liggende korenschoven en twee werkers 1925 - 1927

Curator: Well, this evocative piece before us is titled "Liggende korenschoven en twee werkers," which translates to "Reclining Sheaves of Corn and Two Workers." Leo Gestel created it between 1925 and 1927, and it’s a pencil drawing. It currently resides here at the Rijksmuseum. What's your initial take on this work? Editor: Stark. Almost brutally simple in its depiction of labour. The heavy sheaves dominating the foreground…you feel the weight of them. Curator: Exactly. Gestel's expressionistic style really comes through here. The way he uses the pencil, it’s almost aggressive, creating texture and emphasizing the physical strain of the workers. Notice the strategic use of line and shading. Editor: It really spotlights the socio-economic aspect of farm labour in the interwar period. You can feel the pressure and even the monotony embedded in the marks themselves – the sheer repetition needed to create the depth of the haystacks. How much the materials were affected to present that visual experience! Curator: That’s a great observation. The drawing reflects the shift in art’s purpose during that time, away from pure aesthetic pleasure and more toward a reflection on societal conditions. Expressionism’s rise was closely linked with portraying feelings such as alienation in increasingly industrial societies. Editor: And it makes you wonder about access. Gestel has a relationship with labourers of that period of time, so this act of observation and recreation of that toil. In an environment like the Rijksmuseum, the work prompts visitors to ponder their relationships with rural or agrarian industries, which may involve commodities. Curator: Certainly, the Rijksmuseum, by showcasing works like this, places that historical narrative into our current socio-political context, prompting critical thinking. The art is both a record and a catalyst. Editor: It encourages contemplation and acknowledgement of workers of that period in time. It has been quite insightful exploring Gestel's portrayal, with the physicality of pencil strokes highlighting the labourers' reality and those links. Curator: Indeed. “Liggende korenschoven en twee werkers” demonstrates the potent blend of artistic expression and historical narrative that museums preserve for public dialogue.