Man met drie paarden 1891 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this pen and ink drawing, Man met drie paarden, or Man with Three Horses, on paper sometime in the early 20th century. Look at the energy in those lines, like he’s trying to capture the feeling of movement. I’m imagining him, quickly sketching, trying to get the essence of the horses and man down before they move. I can relate to that feeling, trying to catch a fleeting moment. The stark black ink on the white paper makes it so immediate. It’s like he’s not trying to be perfect, just honest. And those zig-zagging, scribbled lines that make up the forms? It’s almost frantic, like he’s trying to trap the energy of the scene. There’s something very modern about this, this idea that a drawing can be a quick, raw expression. It makes me think about the relationship between humans and animals, and how artists have always been drawn to that connection.