Mand met bloemen 1891 - 1941

This charming little drawing of a flower basket was made by Leo Gestel, but when, exactly? The overall effect is so light and airy, it makes you think of a little gift. I can imagine the artist wanting to give someone a mental bouquet or thinking about the joy of gifting. Gestel's lines are confident, and the composition is nicely balanced. It makes me think of Matisse's drawings—that same effortless quality, born of so much practice, and then this: to be able to make a line look joyous! I wonder if Gestel ever saw any of Matisse's drawings or whether he was part of the same conversation that was happening among artists at the time. It’s an example of how artists riff off each other, even across distances, pushing and pulling at the edges of perception. It makes you think, what can a simple line do?