Lichaam van een koe en hoofd van een paard 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing, Lichaam van een koe en hoofd van een paard, with pen and charcoal. The beauty of the piece lies in its economy, using line and shading to suggest form and volume. It has a tentative, searching quality, like the artist is thinking through the image as he makes it. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the charcoal, giving a sense of depth to the image. Gestel’s marks are a mixture of quick, confident strokes for the outlines, and softer, smudged areas for the shading. I really like the way he renders the body of the cow, it's almost like a series of planes. These contrast with the more delicate lines of the horse’s head. Take a look at the underbelly of the cow. See how the lines curve and intersect? Gestel reminds me of Picasso, who also played with line and form to create playful and ambiguous images. It's like they're both in conversation, exploring how much can be said with the simplest of means. In the end, it's up to us to complete the picture.