Mensen 1891 - 1941

Editor: Here we have "Mensen," a pencil drawing by Leo Gestel, created sometime between 1891 and 1941. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It looks like a cluster of abstract, vaguely human shapes, maybe bodies intertwining? I'm getting a sense of...fragmentation? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Fragmentation is a key word, absolutely. Given the period – think the World Wars, societal shifts, and the rise of industrialization – this drawing can be interpreted as a reflection on the fragmented nature of the human experience. Notice how the bodies aren't whole; they bleed into one another, lacking distinct identities. Editor: That makes sense. It definitely captures a lack of clear boundaries, a sort of loss of self. Curator: Precisely. Consider Gestel's engagement with modernism. The lack of realism can be seen as a conscious decision to move away from traditional representations of the human form. Do you think that that escape of traditions is significant? Editor: Definitely! It's like he’s actively challenging conventional expectations, suggesting a world where traditional structures and identities are collapsing. Curator: Right. And who suffers most during collapsing social paradigms? Where does Gestel implicate such struggles? Editor: Well, now that I think about it, I am noticing certain curves and shapes now which resemble feminine features. It could be an implication of what society's disruption means for women specifically. Curator: I couldn't agree more! Thank you for pointing that out! What a meaningful connection. Editor: It's fascinating how the context transforms the viewing experience. It’s more than just abstract shapes now; it's a visual commentary on the turmoil of the time, especially through a feminine gaze! Curator: Absolutely. Art provides powerful platforms, and it's up to us to unearth those deep meanings!