Drie paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this sketch, 'Three Horses,' using graphite on paper. Unlike oil paint, which allows for layering and correction, or printmaking, which allows for reproducibility, graphite is direct, immediate, and intimate. The soft, grey material has been applied with varying pressure to create a range of tones and textures. Notice how Gestel used smudging and hatching to build up the forms of the horses, giving them a sense of volume and weight. The sketch is not about the exact representation. Instead, it focuses on capturing the essence and energy of these animals. Gestel's choice of graphite, a readily available material, emphasizes the accessibility and immediacy of drawing as a medium. In this way, the work embodies a democratic spirit, challenging the traditional hierarchy between "high" art and everyday practices. By focusing on the inherent qualities of the material, the artist invites us to appreciate the beauty and expressiveness of simple means.