Twee kussende stellen 1891 - 1941

This is a sketch, 'Twee kussende stellen', by Leo Gestel, probably made with graphite on paper. The lines are so tentative, and the figures only lightly suggested, like a fleeting memory. Gestel isn’t trying to capture a photographic likeness, but something more essential about the intimate connection between these two figures, their bodies pressed together, faces almost merging. There's a beautiful economy to the marks, each one carrying so much weight. I love how he's used these simple lines to convey form and emotion. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image, adding a sense of vulnerability. It reminds me of some of Rodin’s sketches, where the incomplete nature of the drawing allows for an openness of interpretation, an invitation for us to project our own feelings and experiences onto the image. Like a conversation, art is about sharing, responding, and keeping the dialogue alive.