Vis en schelp in het water 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this ink drawing, "Vis en schelp in het water," at an unknown date. Imagine Gestel, pen in hand, the nib scratching across the paper. It's a whimsical underwater scene, a fish with bold stripes hovering above a shell, all rendered in wiry lines. The drawing is full of movement, a playful dance of forms. I wonder what Gestel was thinking as he drew each line? Maybe he was amused by the absurdity of it all, the fish and shell coexisting in this strange, linear world. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness, creating a sense of depth and texture. The composition is dynamic, with the fish and shell seeming to float effortlessly in the water. It reminds me of other early modern artists who were exploring the possibilities of line and form, trying to capture the essence of a subject rather than a literal representation. It's like Gestel is inviting us to dive into his imagination, to swim alongside the fish and explore the depths of his artistic vision. Painting, drawing, it's all about that exchange, isn't it?