Vijf zittende vrouwen 1911 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of five seated women with graphite on paper. I imagine him, pencil in hand, quickly trying to capture each figure, one after another, not giving himself time to think. It is very understated, there is an economy to his work, and he doesn’t fuss over details. Instead, he gets the bare minimum of information down on the page. The artist seems to capture a fleeting moment, as if he had only seconds to commit each figure to paper. I love the way the figures are placed on the page; one of the women is even upside down. It reminds me of Matisse’s drawings. There is a certain freedom and playfulness in the work. Drawing like this is really an embodied practice: the eye, the hand, the feeling, all working together. It's kind of mysterious how it all comes together. But it’s so great when it does!