Ontwerpschets affiche voor propaganda kunstbescherming in het leger, schets van soldaat, die met de linkerhand een stopteken maakt 1939

Leo Gestel made this sketch for a propaganda poster in the army, probably with a graphite pencil on paper. The drawing has a raw, immediate quality, typical of sketches where the artist is figuring things out, thinking on paper. I like how the lines are searching, not too precious. Gestel isn't trying to hide the process; each stroke feels like a step in the making. Look at how the soldier’s hand is raised, like he's saying "Halt!". The gesture is strong, even though it's just a few quick lines. The whole thing has a sense of urgency, as if Gestel is quickly trying to capture a fleeting thought. It reminds me a little of the raw, energetic sketches of Käthe Kollwitz, where the process is part of the emotional punch. In the end, art’s about the conversation, the ongoing back-and-forth, not some fixed idea.