Zonder titel (paard en liggend veulen) 1935 - 1936

Leo Gestel made this untitled drawing of a horse and foal with pen and ink. It's all about the push and pull of positive and negative space, the dark ink creating bold shapes that define the figures. The ink is applied with a real urgency, you can see the speed in the jagged, energetic lines. Gestel isn't trying to hide the process, he's letting the physicality of the ink and the movement of his hand do the talking. Look at how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating a soft edge that contrasts with the sharp lines. It makes me think of Franz Marc, another artist who loved to depict animals with a similar raw energy. Both artists seem to understand that art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration of form, feeling, and the world around us. It is a process, not a product.