Studieblad met 6 schetsjes van knielende aardappelrooiers 1925 - 1927

Editor: Here we have "Studieblad met 6 schetsjes van knielende aardappelrooiers," a sheet of six sketches of kneeling potato farmers, by Leo Gestel, sometime between 1925 and 1927. It’s graphite and pencil on paper. What I find so evocative is the repetition, how it suggests the rhythm of labor, but also… the weariness. What strikes you when you look at this? Curator: Weariness, definitely! It's funny, isn’t it? How a few simple lines can convey so much. But also, I’m struck by Gestel's… economy. It feels like he’s observing, yes, but also deeply empathizing. There’s no judgment, just…seeing. It's like he’s captured the soul of repetitive toil. Almost like a dance, a somber dance with the earth. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about the stories these figures carry? I am wondering how can we appreciate what we have so we do not become exhausted ourselves. Editor: A somber dance… I like that. And the idea of economy makes me think of his mark-making -- so few strokes, but so expressive. He’s not just showing us what they *look* like, but how they *feel* as they work. I agree he gives insight to the worker. Curator: Precisely! He is inviting us into that shared human experience. But tell me, what does that mean for you? Looking at it now, how do you find a connection? Are you exhausted thinking about them working or do you appreciate that it allows you to appreciate the moment? Editor: Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it that way before – as an invitation, rather than just an observation. That reframes the entire piece for me. The labor shows, but it does evoke pride that we are sustained. So there's respect mixed in with that feeling of weariness. Curator: Exactly! Art, you see, often operates on multiple levels simultaneously. Hopefully others who will see and reflect can also feel that human, hopeful quality within their weariness.