Zelfportret met vlinderdas 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this self-portrait with charcoal and chalk on paper. I imagine him, brow furrowed, tilting his head slightly to get the angle of his own profile just right, trying to see himself as an object. The paper is a warm brown, almost like cardboard, and the charcoal gives a soft, smudgy quality. See how he uses the white chalk to catch the light on his forehead, nose, and collar? It’s as though he's searching for definition. The contrast reminds me of chiaroscuro, that dramatic play of light and shadow used by Renaissance painters, and I wonder if Gestel was thinking about them too? I'm struck by the directness of his gaze, even though he’s looking to the side, there’s an honesty there, a lack of pretense. That little bow tie adds a touch of formality, but the loose, sketchy lines keep it real. This isn’t just a likeness, it’s a moment of self-reflection caught on paper. It's part of a conversation with other artists across time.