Zelfportret van Leo Gestel 1904

Leo Gestel made this self-portrait using graphite and crayon on paper. Look at the soft hatching of the pencil marks, building up tone and shadow, giving depth to his face and form to his jacket. I wonder what it was like for Gestel to look so intently at himself, turning his gaze inward. It's fascinating how the act of looking can change the thing being looked at, including oneself. Gestel's gaze meets ours directly. The slight tilt of his head gives him a kind of gentle confidence, don't you think? The softness of the graphite allows for a sensitivity and vulnerability, different from, say, the boldness of an oil painting, yet he captures himself with certainty and care. Self-portraiture is a long conversation in art history and this lovely drawing is part of that ongoing dialogue. Artists are always looking at each other, you know, building on ideas and finding new ways to see.