Liggend vrouwelijk naakt aan zee met zeemeeuw 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this pencil drawing of a reclining nude with a seagull at the Rijksmuseum. I love the way Gestel embraces the ‘throw-away’ quality of the medium, the lined paper peeking through and the quick, gestural lines that give the drawing a sense of immediacy. The graphite marks are so light and airy, and the hatching creates volume without weighing the image down. Look at the woman's leg, how a single, curving line defines its shape, and how the parallel strokes suggest the play of light and shadow across her form. It's like he's not just drawing what he sees, but also capturing the feeling of the moment, the breeze, the warmth of the sun. There is something of Matisse’s Bathers about this drawing, or perhaps Picasso’s explorations of the reclining nude. But Gestel brings a distinctive sensibility, that makes it his own. To me, this drawing is a reminder that art doesn't always have to be polished or perfect; sometimes, it's the raw, unfiltered moments that resonate the most.