Visser op een vissersboot 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel rendered this drawing, "Fisherman on a Fishing Boat," in charcoal. The scene, though representational, is defined by angular forms and the interplay of light and shadow. The composition is structured around strong diagonals and cubist-inspired geometric shapes, destabilizing traditional perspective. Look closely at how Gestel uses the charcoal medium to create depth and texture. The rough strokes and smudges add to the atmosphere, suggesting both the harshness and the mundanity of life at sea. The monochromatic palette simplifies the visual field, encouraging us to focus on the underlying structure. The drawing engages with early 20th-century artistic concerns, questioning fixed modes of representation and pointing towards a new way of seeing. Gestel's choice of charcoal enhances the rawness, emphasizing the material's capacity to convey both form and emotion. The visual language is spare, yet the effect is evocative, creating a dialogue between realism and abstraction.