Ornament en twee vlinders 1939 - 1941

Leo Gestel made this drawing titled 'Ornament and two butterflies' using graphite. Gestel’s career unfolded during a period of immense social and political transformation in Europe, marked by the rise of industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social norms. In this study, Gestel merges nature and geometric shapes. Note how the delicate butterflies contrast with the rigid lines of the ornament. His integration of natural and artificial elements reflects early 20th-century society's changing relationship with the natural world. Gestel had a spiritual approach to art and this interest is evident in his tendency to see humans and nature as deeply interconnected. The drawing gives us a glimpse into the artist’s process and his experimentation with form. It invites us to consider the dialogue between the natural and the constructed, reminding us of the intricate ways in which humans interact with and perceive the world around them.