Zonder titel (paard en liggend veulen) 1935 - 1936

Editor: We’re looking at Leo Gestel's "Untitled (Horse and Lying Foal)" created between 1935 and 1936. It's a black ink drawing that feels both simple and evocative, a little like a children’s book illustration, but the shadow seems to undermine this charm. What's your read on this? Curator: It’s fascinating how Gestel, primarily known for his landscapes, engages with figuration here. Consider the period – pre-World War II Europe. What appears as a simple mother-and-child image can be seen as a representation of stability and continuity. But why use such heavy ink in some portions, but almost fading line art elsewhere? Editor: Right! The choice of medium seems so stark for such a gentle subject. Almost…a caricature? Curator: Precisely! The ink, combined with those almost caricatured features, presents a layer of unease, doesn't it? Are we meant to see the artist wrestling with how to picture comfort during unstable times? Editor: So, the 'ideal' family moment perhaps isn't so simple when viewed through the lens of the growing tensions of the 1930s. What's the public role of the work here? Curator: This piece and others from this era ask us to examine what messages of familial unity mean amidst national fractures and coming global conflict. The artist is showing the home as threatened, but still hopeful, in a quickly changing society. How might this work influence viewers' reactions to coming challenges? Editor: That’s such an interesting way to look at it! I had just thought it was a sweet scene, but it holds so much more depth within its historical context. Curator: Exactly. It serves as a reminder of how art acts as a record and reflection of cultural anxieties. A small, unassuming drawing like this contains powerful social commentary.