Ex libris voor J. Slagter (ontwerp) c. 1935 - 1940

Leo Gestel created this pencil design for a bookplate, titled "Ex libris voor J. Slagter," sometime in the early 20th century. The drawing's stark, minimalist style, featuring two conjoined heads in profile, reflects the avant-garde movements flourishing in Europe at the time. Gestel was part of a generation of Dutch artists who grappled with modernism’s impact on traditional art forms. This design, created for a book belonging to a J. Slagter, suggests a cultural world where intellectual pursuits and artistic experimentation were intertwined. Bookplates were a mark of personal identity and taste, and this design hints at Slagter's engagement with contemporary artistic trends. To fully appreciate Gestel’s work, we might consult period publications, exhibition catalogs, and personal correspondence. These resources help us understand the social networks and artistic debates that shaped the design. Ultimately, the meaning of this seemingly simple bookplate lies in its connection to the cultural and institutional contexts of its time.