Twee schepen en een figuur 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this small drawing called 'Twee schepen en een figuur' with crayons, and it's all about seeing how little you need to say a lot. Gestel uses these loose, almost scribbled lines and blocks of color to suggest the shapes of boats and a figure; it's like he's thinking out loud on paper. Look at how the green crayon sort of hovers on the top edges of the boats, giving them volume and weight. It's a method of artmaking that’s direct, unpretentious and raw. I love the way the lines aren’t precise; they wobble and overlap, which brings an energy and openness. It reminds me of the early modernists, like Kirchner, who sought simplicity and emotional expression, valuing the crude mark over academic precision. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be polished to be powerful.