Portret van een onbekende man

This drawing of an unknown man was made by Leo Gestel, in 1921. It’s all about mark-making; charcoal lines building up to form the portrait. The texture in this piece is fascinating. Gestel uses the charcoal in such a way that it feels both delicate and rough. Look closely at the shadows around the man's eyes and cheekbones. The charcoal is smudged and blended, creating a soft, almost hazy effect. But then, notice the sharp, decisive lines that define the collar. The contrast between these areas adds a real sense of depth and dimension. It’s like he’s building up the form, but letting the process remain visible. And that one thin line suggesting the mouth, it’s so subtle, but it speaks volumes, right? It reminds me of some of the early modernist portraitists, like Modigliani, who also embraced the beauty of the unfinished and the imperfect. In art, as in life, it’s often the questions that linger that are the most interesting.