Vrouwenhoofd 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, Vrouwenhoofd, with pen and ink on paper. I imagine him drawing this face in one go, with very little planning beforehand. The outline is so simple and pared-down, but that one line brings to life an entire face, a face that's looking off into the distance, lost in thought. I wonder what Leo Gestel was thinking about when he made this. Did he have a specific woman in mind, or was he simply drawing from his imagination? The hair has such a graphic quality, not dissimilar from Matisse. It reminds me that all artists stand on the shoulders of giants, taking inspiration from those who came before while forging their own unique path. Painting is like a conversation that spans across time, a constant exchange of ideas and inspirations. Ultimately, what's so great about a work like this is that it invites ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for endless readings.