Reiger aan het water met twee vissen bij zijn poten 1891 - 1941

This is Leo Gestel’s drawing of a heron at the Rijksmuseum, sketched with ink on paper. I am really drawn to the heron's funny hairdo. It's a party up there! It makes me wonder about the artist, Gestel, what he might have been thinking, the marks he decided to make. He must have been closely observing the bird, but then, rather than just making a faithful copy, he started exaggerating, embellishing. It’s almost like he’s poking fun, or maybe he was just in a playful mood, letting the ink flow where it wanted to go, like a jazz solo. The reeds are like musical notes, aren't they? And the fish, well, they look a bit like they’ve had one too many. It reminds me that art is also a conversation and exchange of ideas across time. It’s not about perfection, but about embracing the unexpected, and letting the creative spirit take flight.