Drie naakte vrouwen 1926 - 1941

Leo Gestel sketched these three nudes with pencil on paper; the sketch now resides at the Rijksmuseum. Notice the recurring motif of the 'modest Venus,' the figure covering her breasts. This gesture, echoing back to antiquity, suggests an attempt to conceal, yet paradoxically, it draws more attention to the body. We see this echoed through time, from classical sculptures to Renaissance paintings, a constant negotiation between concealment and revelation. Consider how Botticelli's Venus uses a similar pose; a gesture laden with both purity and sensual allure. This primal act is rooted in our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with shame, beauty, and the eternal feminine. It’s a symbol ever resurfacing and evolving. The meaning shifts with each cultural lens, a testament to the enduring, cyclical nature of human expression.