Studieblad met vrouwen en een ezel bij een tempel en vier paarden 1891 - 1941

This is a pencil sketch on paper, made by Leo Gestel. There’s a lightness of touch, the lines are tentative, searching. You can sense the artist thinking through the image as he works, almost like a daydream. It’s the horse that grabs me – or rather, horses. Gestel has drawn the same animal several times, trying out different angles and poses. There’s one upside down, its head almost buried in the ground. The texture of the paper is smooth, allowing for a delicate build-up of tone through the pencil marks. The surface isn't overworked, remaining open and receptive to the artist’s touch. Gestel’s approach reminds me of Degas, another artist who used drawing as a way to explore movement and form. But where Degas is precise, Gestel is more intuitive, more immediate. This sketch feels like a fleeting moment captured on paper, a glimpse into the artist’s creative process. It feels like art as conversation and exchange of ideas.