Briefkaart aan Jan Ponstijn before 1917

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a quick pen and ink sketch on paper titled "Briefkaart aan Jan Ponstijn" by Leo Gestel, likely from before 1917. It's almost like a visual postcard. Editor: It's certainly a quick impression! There's a lovely looseness to it. It feels intimate, like we're catching a glimpse of Gestel's everyday thoughts. The overall effect is kind of charming. Curator: Indeed. Gestel's work here can be seen in light of a broader movement toward informality in artistic correspondence, particularly among avant-garde circles. It’s not just the image but the handwritten text combined. Editor: The teacup near the top corner with what appears to be a skull! What’s that about? It gives the piece this playful yet macabre little detail! The contrast is striking! Curator: Perhaps it’s Gestel's darkly humorous sign-off? We know he corresponded with Jan Ponstijn; maybe this imagery has private significance tied to their relationship, or could this be social commentary. Editor: It's got this wonderfully rushed energy, and this kind of unfiltered spontaneity, like grabbing a pen to prevent an idea from escaping. What could be some potential inspirations or historical moments possibly captured here? Curator: Considering the date, we might look to the sociopolitical climate of the time, the start of the great war. These sketches can serve as important testaments of ordinary people living within moments of crisis. Editor: I like this idea of the piece being more like an instant visual reaction—a moment captured that goes beyond being illustrative. A moment filled with both joy and dread! Curator: It is this interplay between document and artistic expression which is really significant here. We have Gestel experimenting in this intersection of private and public visual discourse. Editor: Yeah, thinking about that teacup again makes you wonder, right? Beyond the obvious reading, Gestel's sketches become reminders of finding small, meaningful moments. Curator: I think reflecting on art in its historical time—this little piece makes those times all that more closer.