Paard 1938 - 1940

Curator: We’re now looking at “Paard,” which simply translates to “Horse,” an ink drawing on paper made by Leo Gestel between 1938 and 1940. Editor: Striking! It's minimalist but conveys a powerful sense of movement. The thick, dark lines create such an interesting texture on the relatively smooth surface. I'm immediately drawn to how graphic it is. Curator: Absolutely. Gestel’s reduction of form invites us to consider his process, the act of selecting which lines truly define the horse, almost an exercise in industrial design rather than portraiture. One can imagine him, the materials readily at hand... Was it the paper's texture, or the ink’s flow that guided his hand? Editor: More than that, surely. Horses have been symbols of power, freedom, and even nobility across cultures for centuries. Look at the way the neck is arched, the tail flowing; there’s an undeniable evocation of spirited strength despite the simplicity of the rendering. I see echoes of equestrian portraiture, shorn of its aristocratic trappings. Curator: Interesting connection. However, the application of ink wash here creates areas of dynamic shadow which seems almost expressionistic, lending the work a modernity which distances it from older traditions and towards questions of industrialization within early twentieth century studios. Did the horse become an abstracted machine? Editor: Or perhaps the reverse is true? Maybe Gestel, even with these modern, expressionistic applications of ink, is tapping into the primal, almost mythological resonance that horses have held for humanity since the dawn of time. The marks themselves—bold, almost primal. Curator: Perhaps, though, seeing Gestel’s choice of materials and limited strokes as the driving force—ink readily available, the efficient lines, it steers us to see the economic considerations artists contended with as much as spiritual ones. Editor: I agree there’s undoubtedly that tension—the dance between practicality and something deeper. It is amazing how Gestel manages to harness those old equine associations with so few elements. Curator: I appreciate how your insights allow us to recognize its layered meaning. By examining not just the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ and the historical contingencies surrounding this creation, we’ve certainly arrived at an expanded vision of its relevance. Editor: And by looking beyond the surface, past the strokes, at the inherent cultural power this singular image harnesses. Illuminating, isn't it?