Torso van een vrouw 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel created this drawing, "Torso van een vrouw," with black and white chalk on paper. The drawing presents an incomplete figure, focusing on the torso. Gestel skillfully uses the contrast between the dark chalk and white highlights to give form to the body, creating a sense of volume and depth on the flat surface. Notice how the lines are not perfectly smooth but rather fragmented, which adds to the raw and immediate feel of the sketch. This approach to form can be seen within the context of early 20th century art, where artists increasingly experimented with abstraction and the reduction of forms to their essential elements. Gestel destabilizes established meanings, challenging traditional ideals of beauty and representation. The focus shifts from replicating reality to exploring the emotional and structural possibilities of the human form. The drawing invites us to reconsider how we perceive and construct meaning through art.