Studieblad met leeuwenkoppen 1891 - 1941

Here is Leo Gestel’s study of lion heads drawn with ink on a piece of lined paper. I love that Gestel chose such humble materials to capture such a majestic animal. The rapid, searching lines suggest an act of trying to capture something elusive. You can see how the artist repeats the same form several times on the sheet. I imagine him wanting to understand the essence of the lion's features from different perspectives. There’s one head in the foreground. A few lines are all it takes to communicate the form, while other parts are more densely worked, particularly the mouth. Look at the top of the head, where the mane is evoked with a flurry of quick marks. This approach gives the drawing energy and a sense of movement. This piece reminds me of Delacroix, who also drew lions, and whose sketches feel like a dialogue with the animal. Artists look, copy, and respond to each other all the time. It's a reminder that creativity is a continuous conversation across time.