Koeien en koeienkoppen 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made these cows and cow heads in pencil, and who knows when? I love the economy of this drawing, its speed and confidence. There’s something so playful in how Gestel has suggested mass with just a few lines. I imagine him standing in a field, charcoal or pencil in hand, quickly capturing the essence of these animals. The lines are so clear and simple; they remind me of Matisse, but also of children’s drawings—that directness and lack of fussiness. You can feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper, each stroke deliberate yet full of energy. Look at the way he suggests the curve of a back or the angle of a head with just a single, unbroken line. Gestel reminds us that drawing, like all art, is about seeing and feeling. It’s about capturing a moment, an impression, and sharing it with others. We artists are all looking at each other’s work, riffing off ideas and finding our own way.