Embleemontwerpen (paarden, vogels, gezichten, etc.) c. 1930 - 1935

Leo Gestel made these "Emblem Designs" with pen in the early 20th Century. Gestel was a Dutch artist whose career navigated through impressionism, luminism, and eventually expressionism. This sheet of studies provides insight into Gestel’s artistic process, revealing a search for symbolic forms. During this period, artists grappled with representing modern life, often turning to symbolism and abstraction to convey deeper meanings. Gestel experiments with universal themes, such as life, death, and nature, through motifs like horses, birds, faces, and landscapes. The horse could symbolize strength and freedom, while faces might represent human connection and emotion. Consider the cultural context of the early 20th century, marked by rapid industrialization, social upheaval, and the rise of psychoanalysis. Gestel, along with his contemporaries, sought to capture the complexities of the human experience in a changing world. These emblems invite us to reflect on the timeless symbols that resonate across cultures and generations, and how they can be reimagined in new and expressive forms.