Twee koeien 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, Twee koeien, with pencil, probably sometime in the early 20th century. Look at how the two cows are rendered with just a few, confident lines. There’s such an economy of means here; Gestel wasn't interested in showing us every detail, just the essence of "cow-ness." It's like he's saying, "Here, I'll give you the bare minimum, and you fill in the rest." The physicality of the medium is really apparent. You can almost see the artist's hand moving across the paper, deciding where to commit and where to leave things open. Take that one line defining the back of the larger cow; it's not perfectly smooth, but has this little wobble that gives it so much character. It reminds me of Picasso’s line drawings, where a single contour can convey so much volume and presence. It's all about suggestion, leaving space for the viewer's imagination to roam. Gestel seems to be having a conversation with artists across time, exploring the possibilities of line and form. It’s a reminder that art is always in dialogue, constantly reimagining what’s possible.