Studieblad met paard en drie zeemeeuwen 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing of a horse and three seagulls on paper. The pencil line is so light and searching, it’s like the image is emerging right before our eyes. I love that sense of process, of the artist figuring it out as they go along. Look at how Gestel renders the sea with these delicate horizontal strokes and the seagulls wings, they have an almost calligraphic quality. The marks are so simple, yet they convey so much movement and energy. The horse’s legs seem to blend into the waves, creating this dreamlike, fluid space where boundaries dissolve. Gestel’s work reminds me of Franz Marc, particularly in the way he simplifies forms and uses animals as symbols of freedom and vitality. Both artists share a love for the natural world and a desire to capture its essence through their art. Ultimately, this drawing celebrates the joy of looking and the endless possibilities of interpretation.