Portret van André Tardieu 1934 - 1936

Editor: We're looking at "Portrait of André Tardieu," a pen and ink drawing created by Leo Gestel between 1934 and 1936, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. The lines are so sharp, almost… ruthless? What do you make of this depiction? Curator: Ruthless is an interesting choice! I feel like Gestel is giving us a little wink with this caricature. The exaggerated brow, the delicate spectacles… it feels almost playful. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about their relationship? Or even Gestel’s view of politicians in general during that turbulent time? Do you feel a sense of unease given when it was created? Editor: I do a little, actually. It's hard not to view art made in the mid-1930s without thinking about the rise of fascism. Is that too heavy of a read? Curator: Never! That’s the beauty of art – it holds our history and our fears. I like your reading. Maybe Gestel, with this almost acidic line, is critiquing the political climate through the exaggeration of this man's features? Look at the sureness of the ink. It’s like he’s drawing with conviction, not just sketching a face. Editor: So the apparent simplicity is actually masking something more complex? Curator: Precisely! It reminds me that portraits can be more than just likenesses. They're often statements, subtle or otherwise. It makes you question what Gestel aimed to capture, not just in Tardieu’s face, but in the world around him. Editor: That's such a good reminder – looking beyond the surface! I’ll never look at a simple portrait the same way again. Curator: And isn’t that what makes wandering through museums so deliciously worthwhile? We unearth secrets with every glance!