Twee naakte vrouwen in het water 1891 - 1941

This drawing was made by Leo Gestel. It shows two nude women in water, captured with ink on paper. The initial impression is all about the line. It’s wiry, quick, and kind of nervous, like Gestel was trying to capture a fleeting moment. The repeated marks that build up the forms of the women. It’s as if he's thinking through the shapes as he draws them. Looking closer, notice how the lines aren't just outlines. They loop and swirl, suggesting movement and volume, like the water around them is alive. The paper peeks through, giving the whole thing an airy, unfinished feel. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, figuring things out as he goes. It reminds me a little of Picasso's early sketches, that same searching quality. Ultimately, it's the ambiguity that grabs me. It feels like a conversation, a thought in progress, and that's what makes it so alive.