Vredesduif 1934 - 1936

Leo Gestel made "Vredesduif", or "Peace Dove," a drawing, probably on paper, sometime around November 1916. The way the dove is rendered with such a clear outline makes me think about how we construct ideas of peace and hope, sometimes reducing them to simple forms. Look at the lines here; they're so decisive and yet, kind of wobbly, right? Like the idea of peace itself – solid, but fragile. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper gives it this immediate, graphic punch. I'm drawn to how the olive branch is almost aggressively scribbled in, a burst of texture against the smooth body of the dove. It reminds me that even symbols of peace can be complex and fraught with tension. Gestel’s background was in post-impressionism, so this stripped-down approach feels like a departure, or even a subtle nod to someone like Picasso, who was also playing with reductive forms around this time. Art is always a conversation, isn't it? "Vredesduif" feels so relevant, a reminder that the pursuit of peace is an ongoing process.