Vis en schelp in het water 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this small pen drawing of a fish and a shell in the water at an unknown date. It’s all about mark making, the controlled chaos of the pen dancing on paper. The lines are so alive, aren't they? Gestel really lets loose here. Look at how he creates depth with just the density of his lines. The shell has so many directional lines, it really feels like a solid thing, compared to the more softly rendered coral. And that fish, with its bold stripes and wide, watchful eye, has an incredible presence! The horizontal lines running through the whole drawing almost make it feel as though you are looking at an early animation cell, and bring a sense of movement and fluidity to the piece. This reminds me a little of Picasso's line drawings, but with a touch more whimsy. It’s like Gestel is reminding us that art is just as much about the process as it is about the final image, and that leaving space for ambiguity can make a work even more intriguing.