Grazend paard 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel’s ‘Grazend paard’ at the Rijksmuseum is a small drawing, made with graphite, of a grazing horse. I see this horse as an attempt to quickly capture the horse’s essence. It's all about the gesture; how the lines communicate the horse's form with such simple confidence. The shading is minimal, just enough to suggest the animal’s volume and weight, like a sculptor blocking out a form. Imagine Gestel, quickly sketching, trying to capture the animal before it moved. I think that this piece is about observation and the translation of life into art, a conversation between the artist, the subject, and the medium, like a dance. And it’s not just about horses but about how we perceive and represent the world around us. It makes me think of other artists who’ve drawn animals, from cave paintings to Degas. It is an ongoing exploration, each artist adding their voice.