Omtrek en skelet van een paard 1926 - 1941

Editor: This drawing, titled "Omtrek en skelet van een paard," or "Outline and skeleton of a horse," by Leo Gestel, dates from 1926 to 1941 and is made with ink on paper. I’m really struck by the sketch’s raw quality, especially given that it's drawn on what looks like a page from a calendar. How would you interpret Gestel's use of this unusual surface? Curator: I find it fascinating how Gestel repurposes a common, almost disposable, item like this calendar page as the ground for his artistic exploration. The pre-existing lines and dates impose a grid, a framework, on the animal's form. We have to consider that paper itself was a commodity. This choice elevates the everyday, highlighting the means of production not only of art, but of everyday life and challenging the traditional art spaces. What kind of labor and consumption cycle does this specific type of paper index? Editor: So, instead of seeing it as a limitation, it becomes a commentary on the material conditions of art making at that time? Curator: Precisely. Notice the quick, almost frantic, linework used to depict both the exterior and the skeletal structure. What do you make of this merging of skin and bones? It's not simply about anatomical study, but perhaps Gestel is examining the labor of the animal and how it impacts its own form, and also the context around how materials shape our perception of the world. Editor: I didn't think about the labor aspect before, but it makes sense considering the date printed on the page. Perhaps Gestel found this to be a readily accessible and inexpensive material, indicative of broader socio-economic forces. It also adds an element of fragility, of temporality to the piece, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly! That fragility enhances our understanding of Gestel’s choices of materials within the art piece itself. What at first seems like an arbitrary choice, becomes a really powerful gesture once you realize what exactly it implicates within society! Editor: This conversation has definitely changed my perception of the piece. The deliberate use of humble materials suddenly makes the artwork even more compelling. Curator: Agreed. Examining the materiality and its social implications adds layers of depth to Gestel's drawing.