Twee naakte vrouwen 1926 - 1941

This work, titled “Twee naakte vrouwen”, was made by Leo Gestel. It’s a drawing, and it captures the movement of the artist's hand so immediately. I’m fascinated by how the lines almost vibrate on the page. There's a real sense of the artist working through an idea, trying to capture something fleeting about the figures. The lines are raw, unrefined, and full of energy. Notice that some lines are darker, more assertive, while others are faint, tentative, almost like whispers. I love the faces of the women. They feel so stylized, almost mask-like, with their almond-shaped eyes and simplified features. They remind me a little of Modigliani, who was also interested in simplifying and elongating the human form. Gestel’s work, like so many artists, is part of an ongoing conversation about what it means to represent the human body, and how we see each other. It’s less about perfection, and more about that messy, beautiful, human process of trying to capture something real.