Briefkaart aan Jan Ponstijn 1918

Leo Gestel made this postcard to Jan Ponstijn in November 1910 using watercolor and ink. It’s moody, theatrical almost, with this washed-out palette and these sharp, dark lines that carve out the figures. I can only imagine Gestel bent over this small piece of card, his brush dancing across the surface, trying to capture this scene with such immediacy. The brushstrokes are loose but purposeful, each dab and stroke adding to the drama. Look at the red, how it almost vibrates against the somber tones, adding depth to the scene. The texture of the paper peeks through, reminding you that this is, after all, just paint on paper, but with the power to evoke so much. Gestel was part of this whole movement exploring new forms of expression, influenced by modern life. You can see it in how he plays with perspective and flattens space, almost like he’s inviting us to rearrange the scene in our minds. Artists are always chatting to each other through time, aren't they? Each stroke is a conversation, echoing and answering each other, and we get to eavesdrop, bringing our own stories to the mix.