Grazende koeien en paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of grazing cows and horses with chalk or charcoal on paper. The material itself is modest, common, and immediate, perfect for capturing a quick impression. Gestel’s lines are economical, seemingly dashed off, yet they skillfully evoke the animals’ forms and postures. The rough texture of the chalk creates a sense of volume and weight, particularly in the shading of the larger cow. This choice of material, combined with Gestel’s technique, gives the work a raw, almost primal feel. You get the sense that the artist was less interested in refined detail than in capturing the essence of these animals in their natural environment. The drawing’s strength lies in its simplicity and directness. Gestel’s work reminds us that even the most ordinary materials, when handled with skill and insight, can yield extraordinary results, blurring the lines between a sketch and a finished artwork.