Galopperend paard 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this galloping horse, using brush and ink, on paper. It’s a simple idea, but the execution feels so alive, like Gestel was trying to catch the horse’s energy more than its exact shape. The brushstrokes are direct and confident. See how he uses thick, black lines to define the horse’s form, then fills in with quick, white dashes to give it volume? There’s a real sense of movement. The horse isn’t static; it’s caught mid-stride. The clouds above and below are just simple stripes, like stage scenery. It reminds me of Franz Marc, who also loved painting animals. Both artists share this idea of getting into the animal’s spirit. It’s like Gestel is saying, "Here’s a horse, but it’s also a feeling—of freedom, of speed, of just pure animal energy." It’s playful, loose, and makes you feel like you're galloping right along with it.