Hoofden en gezichten 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this small pencil drawing, "Hoofden en gezichten", which translates as Heads and Faces, on paper, sometime in the early 20th century. It’s all about the sketchiness, the sheer number of marks, and the layering of image upon image. You can see the process right there on the page. The paper is almost filled edge to edge with a jumble of heads, faces, and what looks like numeric lists. Gestel's pencil lines are nervous and searching, crisscrossing to build up tones and textures. Some faces are more defined, while others seem to dissolve into the background, like fleeting thoughts. I love the way some of the heads are almost floating, disconnected from any body. One area I find particularly interesting is the column of numbers down the left-hand side, which seems to anchor the whole composition, giving it a strange sense of order amidst the chaos. Gestel’s interest in the human form and his exploration of different artistic styles remind me a bit of Picasso, who was also experimenting with similar themes. Ultimately, it's a raw, honest piece that invites us to embrace the messy, unresolved nature of art and life.