Schets voor 'L'art Hollandais contemporain' van Paul Fierens (baadsters) 1932 - 1933

Leo Gestel made this sketch for Paul Fierens’ ‘L’art Hollandais contemporain’ with ink on paper. It’s all about the gestural quality of the ink lines, how they define shape and volume. The varying thickness of the line gives the image a real sense of depth. Gestel's mark-making here is so confident and fluid. Look at the way he uses these bold, dark lines to outline the figures, almost like he's carving them out of the white space. The ink is applied in such a way that in some areas, it pools and creates these deep, rich blacks, while in other areas, it's more transparent, allowing the paper to show through. The cross-hatching and the dense, linear marks create shadows and volume, giving the figures a sculptural presence. That hatching on the left of the image is so evocative! This sketch reminds me of the work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, in the way that he also used bold, graphic lines to create emotionally charged images. It’s like they're both tapping into this raw, expressive energy that comes from the physicality of making marks. Art is a conversation across time, a constant exchange of ideas and influences.