Briefkaart aan Jan Ponstijn 1914

This postcard, made by Leo Gestel in 1914, hits you right away with its raw, uneasy colors and sharp, almost frantic lines. Gestel throws the whole Nativity scene into a blender with World War I. Look at how he uses watercolor washes to create these ghostly figures lurking in the background. It’s like the whole scene is dissolving, falling apart. The texture of the paper peeks through the thin paint, reminding you it’s a quick, urgent message. The three wise men look more like shell-shocked soldiers offering prayers to a missile in a manger. Gestel’s marks feel impulsive, like he’s trying to capture a nightmare before it fades away. It reminds me of Grosz or Dix, artists who weren’t afraid to show the ugly side of things. Gestel isn't giving us a comforting Christmas card; he's shaking us awake. The piece embraces its moment, unafraid of ambiguity, it’s a powerful statement about the insanity of war.