Koeien in de Beemster 1921

Leo Gestel made this painting of cows, probably in the early 20th century, with decisive marks in subdued greens, browns, and grays. I imagine him outdoors, trying to keep up with the shifting sunlight as it filters through the trees, falling on the cows. He’s really simplified things, hasn’t he? Everything seems to blend together – the cows, the trees, the ground they’re lying on. I can almost feel him squinting, trying to capture the essence of the scene, not the details. Maybe he's thinking about how shapes and colors interact, pushing and pulling against each other to create depth and volume. I bet he kept it loose, letting the brushstrokes do their thing. These cows, huddled together under the trees, remind me of other artists who’ve tried to capture the quiet moments in nature. Gestel is part of this ongoing conversation, each artist adding their own voice to the mix. It's a reminder that painting is about feeling and intuition, not just what we see, and that the best art leaves room for us to bring our own experiences to it.