Achterste en lichaam van een koe 1891 - 1941

Editor: So, this is "Achterste en lichaam van een koe," or "Hindquarters and Body of a Cow," a graphite and ink drawing by Leo Gestel, estimated to be from sometime between 1891 and 1941. The first thing I noticed is how raw it feels – almost like a fleeting impression. What catches your eye in this sketch? Curator: Ah, yes! "Fleeting impression" nails it! It reminds me of a memory fading at the edges. Gestel’s lines, so sparse and yet so confident, capture the essence of the animal. I feel like I’m standing right there in the field with him. Tell me, does the somewhat awkward perspective of the rear view strike you as odd? Editor: Well, it does make it feel less polished and more immediate, which I kind of like. It’s almost humorous, seeing the cow's backside so prominently. Do you think that's intentional? Curator: I wonder... perhaps. Or perhaps Gestel was more interested in the play of light and shadow on its form. Look how he uses simple strokes to convey the animal's weight and bulk. It’s both realistic and abstract, isn't it? Almost like he's stripping away everything unnecessary to reveal the pure form of "cowness"! Editor: I see what you mean! It’s like he’s captured the very *idea* of a cow. Thanks, I never would have picked up on that myself. Curator: Absolutely! Sometimes the most profound statements are made in the simplest of lines. Isn't it amazing what you can say with just graphite and ink?