Karikatuur van Pièrre Jean Marie Laval 1934 - 1936

This caricature of Pièrre Jean Marie Laval was made by Leo Gestel, using what looks like ink on paper, with thin black lines, and varying densities achieved by hatching, you know, those tiny closely-spaced parallel lines that create a sense of tone. I imagine Gestel hovering over the paper, his hand moving swiftly, capturing the essence of Laval with bold, exaggerated strokes. His mind must have been racing, maybe he was thinking about the political climate, the absurdity of power, or the simple pleasure of skewering a public figure with his art. The textures, created by the repetitive strokes, give the drawing an almost tactile quality. I keep thinking about the crown-like hat that is so unflattering. What does this mean? These simple gestures aren’t just lines on paper; they’re a way of embodying a feeling, an intention, a perspective. Gestel, like all artists, is in a conversation with the world, responding, reacting, and inviting us to see things in a new light. Each stroke embodies his reaction to the world, his interpretation of Laval, his artistic response to an era defined by political tension.