Bloemenstruik 1924 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, "Bloemenstruik," with pen and ink, but without a date, so we don’t know exactly when. It's all about the lines, isn’t it? Crisp and clean, like a coloring book page waiting for its colors. I love how this kind of simple drawing reveals the artist’s hand, the decision-making in each stroke. Look at the way Gestel makes each leaf and petal distinct. It’s not about perfect botanical accuracy but more about the rhythm and balance of the shapes. The ink has a slight texture, a certain physicality despite the simplicity. See how the lines vary in thickness, giving the drawing a subtle depth? Gestel lets us peek into his process, almost like a dance between observation and imagination. It reminds me a bit of Matisse’s line drawings, that same economy of means and focus on pure form. It shows how art is a conversation across time, each artist borrowing and building upon what came before, and it reminds us that art is not about fixed answers but about open-ended exploration.