Paarden 1891 - 1941

This sketchbook page by Leo Gestel, showcases a series of studies of horses in graphite. There's a lovely sense of process at play here, where the artist is almost thinking through the pencil, letting each mark become a step in understanding the form and energy of these animals. The pencil lines are delicate but assured, capturing the essence of each horse with a minimum of fuss. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving swiftly across the page, trying to capture the fleeting movements and postures of his subjects. I love the way the lines sometimes overlap and blur, creating a sense of depth and movement, as if the horses are shifting and jostling for position. Look at the horse on the lower left; the simple line drawing so perfectly captures the weight of the animal and the energy in its arched neck. Gestel, like many modern artists, was deeply influenced by the expressionist movement, and you can see that in the dynamic energy and emotional intensity of these drawings. Think of Franz Marc’s paintings of animals; there is a similar feeling of empathy and connection with the natural world, a sense of trying to capture not just what a horse looks like, but what it feels like to be one.