Grazend paard 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a grazing horse with graphite on paper. The first thing that strikes me is the economy of line, Gestel uses a kind of shorthand to describe the animal. Look closely, and you will see how the texture of the paper is integral to the overall effect. It’s as though the surface has been activated, given a life of its own. The shading on the horse’s flank seems to emerge organically from the page. The dark contour lines are bold and confident, yet they don’t fully contain the form. They suggest volume without closing it off completely, leaving space for the imagination. See how the legs are almost like an afterthought, just a few quick strokes to anchor the body. Gestel reminds me of Franz Marc, who also had a real love for animals. Like Marc, he is interested in something beyond mere representation, it’s about capturing the animal’s inner essence. For me, this piece is a reminder that art is never really finished, it is always evolving and open to interpretation.