Karikatuur van Leo Gestel op zijn ziekbed 1911 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this caricature of himself in bed with a pencil, but when? The squiggles and lines create a world of their own. There's so much vulnerability, it's as though he's looking in a mirror, warts and all. The face, those eyes... it's grotesque, yet endearing, like a raw glimpse into his soul. Look at the way he captures light. See how the lines around the head and eyes create a halo effect, but simultaneously emphasize the depth of his wrinkles? It’s beautiful. The drawing is so understated and minimal. It reminds me of work by Max Beckmann, using line to create something so emotionally impactful. We're left with this sense of art as an unfinished conversation, a dialogue across time, open to endless interpretations.