Bloemenvaas op een tafel 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this pencil drawing, ‘Flower vase on a table’, at an unknown date. The vase is centered on a simple table, topped by a mountain-like form and two birds. The drawing is an interesting illustration of the tensions of the artist’s time. Gestel was working in the Netherlands at the turn of the century, when academic realism was being challenged by modern movements. There was considerable debate about the public role of art, and the values it should embody. While he did not fully embrace pure abstraction, Gestel was influenced by the expressionist and cubist styles. Note the way the flowers and birds are reduced to simplified forms, and the lack of depth or naturalistic color. We might think of Gestel as questioning the traditional role of still life painting. Instead of representing luxury and abundance, this drawing feels deliberately sparse and provisional. To understand Gestel’s motivations better, we might look at his other works, read contemporary art criticism, and research the exhibition history of the time.