Bohème c. 1910 - 1916

Leo Gestel’s “Bohème” is rendered in chalk and crayon on paper, using materials associated more with sketching than with finished painting. This choice is fitting, given the informal subject matter: a group of figures gathered in a dimly lit interior, making music and enjoying each other’s company. Gestel is especially attentive to the ways in which the light catches the surfaces of things: the sheen on a glass bottle, the texture of a patterned suit. The work conveys the impression of a quick study, made on the spot, and captures a fleeting moment of conviviality. Yet “Bohème” is also quite carefully composed, with a strong sense of tonal contrast and carefully arranged figures. It gives the impression of a ‘slice of life’, yet it would take time and effort to create this effect. In the end, it is this paradox – the tension between spontaneity and studied effect – that gives the work its lasting appeal. And the materials employed by Gestel are absolutely essential to this aesthetic balancing act.