Portret van Jan Toorop 1920 - 1922

Leo Gestel made this portrait of Jan Toorop with brush and india ink. It's all about the process, seeing how the ink bleeds into the paper and the way the brushstrokes define the form, like a dance between control and letting go. Gestel uses these fluid lines to capture Toorop’s likeness, but it’s more than just a representation. The way the ink pools in the dark strokes of the eyebrows and nose gives a real sense of weight and presence. Look at the wisps of ink forming the beard - it's almost like the portrait is breathing. Gestel's work reminds me a little of Emil Nolde, especially in the expressive use of ink to convey emotion. Art is like a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas, each artist building on what came before. There's no single right way to see it, just different perspectives adding to the mix.