Omslagontwerp voor: De Gemeenschap, 1935 c. 1935

This cover design for De Gemeenschap was made by Leo Gestel in 1935. It's got this lovely sketch-like quality. It feels so immediate, like he was just thinking out loud with his pencil. Gestel’s drawn a tree teeming with birds. I imagine him, maybe in his studio, or even outside, quickly capturing the essence of each bird with these simple, but expressive lines. The birds are perched on branches, overlapping, some looking out, others tucked away. I imagine him capturing their essence, their avian essence. Look at how some lines are darker, more defined, while others are light and almost disappear, giving the whole image movement. You can see the influence of cubism and expressionism here – a deconstruction of form, but with a real emotional punch. It reminds me of Picasso’s drawings, but with a Dutch sensibility. Artists are always riffing off each other like that. It’s this constant exchange that keeps art alive, right? And for me, the conversation is never over when I look at art.