Kop van een man schuin naar rechtsboven kijkend 1930 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, "Head of a Man Looking Diagonally Up to the Right," using pen and India ink. There’s a real sense of urgency in the way Gestel has rendered this man's face, quickly, boldly, mapping his features with thick strokes of ink. I imagine him in the heat of the moment, trying to capture something fleeting, some deep thought, a glimpse of the soul. There is an attempt to reach an underlying essence of the subject, not just skin deep. See how he uses the stark contrast between black and white to create depth and volume with economy. Those broad, confident lines are not just describing form; they’re also conveying emotion, tension, and maybe even a touch of melancholy. It makes me think about how the simplest materials can be transformed through the artist’s vision, and that every mark is a record of their presence, intention, and ultimately, their humanity. This piece reminds me that art is a conversation across time.