Landschap met twee boeren, die paarden aan de hand leiden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this landscape with two farmers leading horses with brush and ink. What a frenetic scene! The monochromatic palette really pushes the eye to look for detail. You can almost feel the artist's hand quickly mapping out the landscape and its figures. I can imagine Gestel standing in a field, squinting to capture the scene before him. What was he thinking about? Maybe he was contemplating the relationship between humans and nature, or just trying to capture a fleeting moment of rural life. The rapid, confident strokes of ink suggests a dialogue with painters like Van Gogh, yet maintains its own unique sensibility. The texture of the ink on paper is so important here, adding a layer of depth and richness to the drawing. Notice how a thicker line creates shadows, while thinner ones define form. In some places, the ink is almost dry, creating a rough, scratchy texture. Gestel's expressionistic brushwork, conveys the energy and dynamism of the scene, as the horses seem to gallop across the page.