Kraaiende haan 1934 - 1936

Leo Gestel created this striking image of a rooster using black ink on paper. The bold contrast between the black ink and the white paper emphasizes the graphic qualities of the woodcut style he emulated. It's clear Gestel was interested in printmaking techniques, simplifying forms to strong shapes, much like the German Expressionists. The image has an energetic quality, achieved through dynamic compositions and the stark contrast of materials, almost as if carved directly into wood. The materiality of ink lends itself to this process, where its fluidity and opacity allow for expressive marks and tonal variations. When you consider Gestel's choice to depict the rooster, traditionally a symbol of vigilance, and the hard, angular shapes, you can see the influence of industrialization on art practices. Gestel's rooster is not soft or naturalistic, it is presented as a stark, modern emblem. The result challenges the traditional hierarchy between the fine arts and the applied arts by blurring the lines between drawing and printmaking, highlighting the labor and craftsmanship involved in both.