Twee naakte vrouwen aan het strand 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel sketched these two nude women on the beach, using pencil, sometime in his career. The whole image is made up of very thin, sensitive lines, each one capturing a specific detail. But it’s not just about accuracy; it’s about creating a feeling. Look at the way he uses line to define the curve of a hip or the swell of a breast. These aren’t just anatomical studies. They’re sensual, full of life and movement. The simplicity of the drawing, with its emphasis on contour and form, reminds me of Matisse. It’s like Gestel is stripping away everything unnecessary to get to the core of what he wants to express. There’s a kind of immediacy to it, as if he’s capturing a fleeting moment, a brief encounter with beauty. It feels very contemporary. It feels like a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, always evolving, always pushing boundaries.