Vrouw met trompet, zwevend op wolken 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a woman with a trumpet floating on clouds with pen and ink, and the date is unknown. The energy is all in the scratchy, repetitive lines that form the clouds. There’s a real sense of movement, like wind swirling around her. Look at how Gestel uses the density of the ink to create depth and shadow. The woman herself is heavily shaded, almost sculptural, while the clouds are lighter, more ethereal. You can almost feel the texture of the paper through the ink. See how the lines of the clouds aren't neatly contained, but extend beyond the figure, blurring the boundary between the earthly and the divine. It’s a bit like a Cy Twombly, all these loose, scribbly lines that somehow come together to create an image that’s both chaotic and harmonious. Gestel's drawing reminds us that art is always a conversation, an exchange of ideas and approaches across time. Ultimately, it’s up to us to find our own meaning in the ambiguity.