Twee paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, Two Horses, with a stick of charcoal. It’s all about speed, isn't it? The artist has captured something essential about these animals. It reminds me of my own studio practice, marks dashed down, trying to keep up with an idea. I love the way he hasn’t laboured over detail. Instead, Gestel has focused on the mass of the horses, the roundness of their rumps, the elegant curve of their necks. The charcoal is smudged in places, creating shadows and depth with very few lines. Look at the confident strokes that define the horse on the right. It's like a shorthand for form. Gestel’s modern approach is reminiscent of Franz Marc, another artist who loved painting animals. However, while Marc’s animals are vibrant and full of colour, Gestel’s are more subdued, more about capturing their essence, like a memory. Ultimately, art is about suggestion, not explanation, and Gestel's drawing really understands that.