Embleemontwerpen (paarden, vogels, gezichten, etc.) c. 1930 - 1935

Curator: This drawing, elegantly titled "Embleemontwerpen (paarden, vogels, gezichten, etc.)", which translates to "Emblem Designs (horses, birds, faces, etc.)", was created by Leo Gestel sometime between 1930 and 1935. Editor: Wow, it's a whole menagerie crammed onto a single piece of paper! Feels like peeking into the artist’s sketchbook, all chaotic and full of half-formed ideas. Curator: Precisely. Gestel was known for his experimentation across various styles, from impressionism to cubism. This sheet of emblem designs in ink and pencil on paper showcases his engagement with symbolism and figuration, echoing prevalent themes within early 20th-century art. Considering the tumultuous socio-political context of that time, it raises the question, what narratives might he be trying to visualize or subvert through these motifs? Editor: That's a weighty question. For me, it's less about subversion and more about the sheer joy of creating. Look at those horses – so full of energy, even in simple lines! There's a playful freedom here, an artist just letting loose and seeing what emerges from the nib of his pen. Curator: I see your point. However, placing it within the context of interwar artistic movements is helpful. The rendering style of the figures, somewhat flattened and idealized, recalls the anxieties and disillusionment after WWI through simplified figuration in arts—an escape into symbolic expression rather than overt political commentary. Editor: Maybe, or maybe he just liked drawing horses and mythical creatures. Sometimes a horse is just a horse, even if it's rendered in ink! What I love is how immediate this feels – we're right there with Gestel as his mind wanders. Curator: Indeed. While Gestel had affiliations with groups involved in utopian projects with an orientation toward radical social change, which is subtly observable when exploring his design thinking for social cohesion, there is the ungraspable element that boils down to experimentation. Editor: Exactly! It's a glimpse into the artist's process. Thanks to Leo for letting us be part of his artistic experience. Curator: Gestel challenges us to understand better the era’s artistic inclinations toward using symbolism and what one makes with social motifs.