Olifant op boek (schets) before 1936

This is Leo Gestel’s sketch, "Olifant op boek", or "Elephant on Book," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. With rapid strokes of ink on paper, Gestel captures the curious image of an elephant standing atop a book. The elephant's form is built up through a dense network of hatched lines, creating a sense of volume and texture. Light seems to emanate from behind the figure, achieved through radiating lines that dissolve its solidity. The composition, though simple, stages a visual interplay between weight and support, knowledge and nature. What could this juxtaposition mean? Is it a commentary on the burden of knowledge, or perhaps the power of the natural world? The book, a symbol of learning, serves as the plinth for a creature of immense physical presence. It's a visual paradox that invites reflection on how we assign value and meaning. The sketch remains open-ended, and prompts us to consider the multiple layers of symbolism.