Studieblad met acht paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this study of eight horses with pen and ink, and there's a real sense of playful energy about it. I imagine him sketching quickly, trying to capture the movement and spirit of these creatures. You know, how a line can contain so much. The horses are arranged almost like a frieze, some grazing peacefully, one rearing up dramatically, and others just standing around. I wonder what Gestel was thinking about as he drew each one. Did he have a particular horse in mind, or was he just playing with form and composition? The texture of the ink on paper gives it a raw, immediate feel. It reminds me of some of Franz Marc's animal paintings, that shared interest in the animal form, its power and grace. What’s interesting is that artists are always in dialogue with each other. Gestel’s horses might have been inspired by something he saw, or a conversation he had, or even just a feeling he wanted to express. It’s all part of this big, ongoing exchange of ideas. Each mark and line is a moment of embodied expression.