Ontwerp voor een boekband voor: Aart van der Leeuw, De kleine Rudolf, 1930 1928 - 1930

This is Leo Gestel's book cover design for "De Kleine Rudolf," made around 1930, probably in ink and pencil on paper. It's like a little visual poem, right? Gestel’s mark-making is so direct; there's no fussiness here, just bold strokes that suggest form without getting bogged down in detail. The black areas are really solid, anchoring the composition, while the surrounding lines are thin and quick. I'm drawn to the way the hat is rendered, just a big shape suggesting a shadow, and the wavy lines that seem to convey a sense of movement. I think about Guston’s late-style works, but with a quieter, more graphic sensibility. It's amazing how much atmosphere he creates with so little information. The flatness of the forms, combined with the suggestive lines, creates a space that’s both immediate and dreamlike. It’s a lovely example of how art can be both simple and deeply evocative.