Mand met bloemen 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a flower basket with ink. It is line-based, but there is a lot of freedom and looseness. It's a basket of flowers, but also a basket of marks. What I notice here is how the density of lines create a sense of depth and volume. Look at the base of the basket, those furious scribbles suggesting shadow, anchoring the lightness of the flowers above. The marks are so energetic they seem about to lift off the page. There's a little swarm of marks above the main bunch of flowers which suggests a butterfly. It is as though the entire image is alive. This drawing reminds me of other artists such as Henri Matisse or Joan Miró. They each possess a deceptively simple approach to line, but like Gestel, their playful and intuitive marks are filled with life and meaning. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about perfection, but about the energy of a moment.