Rennende paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of running horses with pencil on paper. Gestel approaches mark-making with a real sense of freedom, capturing a fleeting moment with quick, energetic lines. You can tell he wasn't aiming for perfection, but for the feeling of movement. The materiality here is all about the graphite on paper. The pencil lines vary in pressure, creating a sense of depth and shadow even though there's no color. The surface of the paper is visible, giving the drawing a raw, immediate quality. Look at the legs of the horses – see how some lines are barely there, while others are bold and defined. That variation creates a sense of rhythm, mimicking the way horses move. It’s almost like Gestel is dancing with the pencil, trying to capture the essence of these animals in motion. Gestel’s work reminds me a little of Franz Marc, who was also obsessed with animals and their spiritual connection to the world. Like Marc, Gestel uses art to explore something deeper about life and movement. It’s a reminder that art is not about capturing reality, but about opening up new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.