Liggende vrouw met twee paarden c. 1931 - 1933

Leo Gestel made this pen and ink drawing, Liggende vrouw met twee paarden, meaning 'Reclining Woman with Two Horses,' probably as a study, and there's a real sense of process in the bold, graphic marks. I love the way Gestel uses these confident lines to build form, but also lets the white of the paper do a lot of work. See how the dark strokes around the woman's body not only define her shape but also create a sense of shadow and depth? The texture is implied rather than painstakingly rendered. It’s all about suggestion. There’s a push and pull between what's there and what isn't. Look at the horse on the right – the way it's both present and dissolving into the background. The horses and women remind me of Picasso’s neoclassical period, yet here, the stark contrast and simplified forms feel more modern, more about capturing an idea than depicting reality. It's like Gestel is saying, "Here's what matters," and leaving the rest to our imagination.