Aangespannen paard en kopstudies 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a harnessed horse and head studies with graphite, sometime between 1900 and 1941. It’s all about the line here. You can almost feel the give and take, the artist’s hand exploring the forms. It’s like a visual conversation, isn't it? Look closely at the horse's back. The lines are tentative, searching for the right curve, the right weight. Then, glance at the head studies. They're fainter, like ghosts of thoughts, hinting at other directions the drawing could have taken. See how the texture of the paper peeks through? It gives everything a hazy, dreamlike feel. Gestel reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also had this knack for capturing the essence of a subject with such simple means. Ultimately, art is not about perfection but about the journey, the exploration, and the questions we ask along the way.