Zeilschip 1934 - 1936

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a drawing titled “Zeilschip,” or “Sailing Ship,” created by Leo Gestel sometime between 1934 and 1936, using pen and ink. What do you think of this lively sketch? Editor: It's restless! The thick, scribbled lines really convey the movement of the boat and the water. It feels precarious, like they're at the mercy of the elements, doesn’t it? Curator: Gestel was very interested in the elemental, using symbolism that links with the psychological and cultural, wasn't he? Ships in art often serve as metaphors for journeys, transitions, and the human condition, but here, that seems more personal. It's interesting he leaves all the sailors almost without identity in shadow and darkness. Editor: Yes, anonymous souls adrift. It also looks like Gestel made this on location, very spontaneously, capturing a fleeting moment. The cross-hatching on the sails and the frenzied strokes depicting the waves—it's pure energy, and so immediate. And what about the tiny figures huddled together. The drawing feels to me like an impression rather than any documentary record. Curator: Exactly. And that immediacy helps convey something of the experience of confronting nature. Think of other sailing ship depictions—dignified warships, grand liners… This is different. It speaks to me of the individual's place in the larger context. Editor: It does invite contemplation—both on a personal level and also a collective experience, everyone reliant on the stability of the craft to work together in harmony. Curator: I agree. Looking closely, you’ll find more delicate and sparse, lines where Gestel has made very slight alterations. It's an immediacy combined with control, each stroke deliberately placed to enhance movement. Editor: It also appears Gestel might be referring to an existing photographic image—the sketch, with its caption detail looks to me like it may have been created after, but not quite from life. Curator: An interesting point to ponder when you view this deceptively simple artwork, which, as we have discovered, speaks volumes. Editor: Well, I for one feel rather windswept now.