Studieblad met twee mannen met paarden en twee vrouwen met duiven 1891 - 1941

Editor: So, this is "Studieblad met twee mannen met paarden en twee vrouwen met duiven," a study sheet in ink on paper by Leo Gestel, made sometime between 1891 and 1941. The Rijksmuseum holds it. I find this quite strange. I feel like I’m seeing snippets from different worlds coexisting on the same plane. What do you see when you look at this drawing? Curator: It’s as though Gestel has opened a window into his artistic process. What captivates me are the contrasts, like a dialogue between classical composure, figures that you might see on a Grecian urn, with this, shall we say, more raw, exploratory energy. You have these figures almost floating above this procession of horses. There’s a freedom here. He's thinking aloud with his pen, working out an idea from multiple angles. Almost like notes taken in the margins of an epic poem. Does the reversed image at the top give you any feelings, like looking in a mirror, perhaps? Editor: I do think it creates a sense of mirroring or reflection, especially when juxtaposed with the more grounded horses below. So is it almost like he's using different styles of art, from like different periods or cultures? Curator: Perhaps, and I like that observation! It feels deeply intuitive, you see? As if he's tapping into some deeper mythological reservoir. Do you find yourself inventing a narrative connecting these figures? Editor: It's interesting you ask that because, initially, no. But now, with the figures above 'watching' the procession below... maybe they're deities overseeing humanity's relationship with nature? Curator: Exactly! Gestel nudges us toward those sorts of whimsical yet profound connections. These sketches allow us to view, participate, even, in an artist's vision taking flight. It certainly gives me some food for thought. Thanks for your interpretation, by the way. Editor: Thank you, this insight is really helpful. It feels less like a sketch now and more like a meditation on form and storytelling.