Olifant 1934 - 1936

Curator: Leo Gestel’s "Olifant," dating from 1934 to 1936, always makes me smile a little. There's a directness to it, a real warmth, despite the almost severe use of ink on paper. Editor: It does have a certain groundedness, doesn't it? The materiality itself – the scratchy, layered ink – creates this sense of weight and presence. You can almost feel the process, the hand of the artist at work. I bet Gestel was fascinated with the labor aspect of traditional printmaking, perhaps as a democratizing force in art. Curator: Absolutely, and perhaps even playing with ideas around scale. I see a humbleness of materials, this elephant brought down in scale through the accessible medium of ink and paper... and I can feel an intention here to invite every viewer in! It almost whispers, "Art is for everyone.” Editor: Precisely. Gestel subverts any notion of art being detached from the world; the subject, of course, speaks to colonial histories – I imagine this rendering of an elephant, on a modest piece of paper, allows for questioning exoticization... rather it domesticates. Curator: That contrast is palpable. In any case, notice how the light catches the tusk. You sense the animal's inherent gentle nature, there. Gestel saw and revealed this creature's very soul—its silent, enduring strength—making the statement: “Gentle Giants Exist!” Editor: And the economic implications of such representation... By employing ink, and working on paper—both of which are infinitely reproducible materials – Gestel avoids elevating the image, and thus, prevents this "Olifant" from being commodified! This suggests artmaking should also address social awareness and engagement. Curator: True! I'm now inspired anew! I hadn't quite thought of how Gestel used the inherent material modesty of the artwork, "Olifant" as the statement itself—rejecting the traditional art hierarchies and speaking a visual democratic language accessible to us all. Editor: It truly illustrates the powerful connection between materials, technique, and broader social and cultural narratives that resonate profoundly to this day!