Nieuwjaarswens voor 1904 van Leo Gestel 1889

Leo Gestel made this New Year’s greeting card for 1904. Observe the symmetry of the composition, centered on two nude female figures, symbols of fertility and renewal, reaching towards a budding tree. These figures evoke classical antiquity, reminiscent of the Greek goddess, connecting the turn of the century with ancient ideals of beauty and harmony. Note how these figures bookend the Omega and Alpha symbols—the end and the beginning—representing the cyclical nature of time. The gesture of the reaching hands recurs throughout art history. Consider the Creation of Adam, where the divine spark is transmitted through a similar touch. Yet, here, the touch is secular, grounded in earthly figures, illustrating a transformation from divine creation to human potential. Such imagery taps into our collective memory, engaging deep-seated desires for rebirth. This card is not merely a greeting; it is a microcosm of cultural memory, where ancient symbols are reborn and re-imagined to convey hope.