Leendert Gestel - SKETCHLINE

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1881 - 1941

Leendert Gestel

description

A Dutch painter, graphic artist and illustrator. A participant of the famous Bergen school. Along with Piet Mondrian and Ian Torop, the artist worked in a variety of styles, from Impressionism to Cubism and Expressionism, in which he showed himself most vividly.

Leendert was born into a large family. His father and uncle were professional artists and gave the boy an initial art education.

Leendert (Leo) Gestel was among the leading artists of Dutch Modernism, who did a lot to promote the advanced art trends in the country. He took part in the first exhibition of “The Circle of Contemporary Art” – an association of artists focused on avant-garde trends in painting, in particular, Cubism and Futurism. In addition to a large number of paintings and drawings, Leo Gestel was engaged in the creation of posters and the design of household items, illustrated a large number of books and magazines.

Museum of Leo Gastel, which is now popular, was created in his house in Blaricum.

Key ideas:

The work of Leo Gestel is distinguished by a striking variety of artistic styles and directions. The irresistibly bright colors of Fauvism, the strict geometry of Cubism, the thirst for Futurism and the emotional expressiveness of Expressionism – all this flows through the creative path of the artist. Gestel’s friends and associates called him Leonardo, hinting at a talent equal to the great da Vinci, and this nickname (Leo in a shortened version) was preserved for the artist for life.

The works of L. Gestel in any manner and direction really amaze with the power of the talent embodied in them. They show the author’s broad creative horizons, the depth of his aspirations and the constant desire for self-improvement. Leo began his art path as an illustrator and a master of poster art. Earning his living in this way, the artist perfectly mastered the graphic technique, which is noticeable in all his works.

Picturesque paintings of the author are a reflection of the creative quest of a whole generation of young artists. In them, we can see the crisis of the break of centuries, the liberation from the restraining fetters of the traditionalism of art and the premonition of misfortune that is characteristic of many creative people before the First World War and Second World War.

The main theme of Leo Gestel’s painting is the image of a person in various emotional states and relationships between people. His portraits are not just a copy of the appearance of a person, but an expression of sadness or joy, interest or indifference, calmness and relaxation or a boiling inner struggle. In them, the personal attitude of the artist to his model and his individual vision are also clearly visible.

As for landscapes and still lifes, Gestel found in them a wide field for artistic experiments. Paying great attention to the shape of objects and the color balance, he subtly sensed the color and rhythm of nature, its inner sound. This allowed him to fully express the harmony of the world; the artist did it in all possible ways as if performing the same symphony playing different musical instruments.

Leendert Gestel

On Artist

flow

Fauvism

Expressionism

Post-impressionism

friends

Ian Slaters

Gustav de Smet

artists

Vincent van Gogh

Andre Derain

Pablo Picasso

Georges Braque

Kes van Dongen

Franz Heysman

Dirk Filarski

Charlie Torop

By Artist

flow

Cubism

friends

Ian Slaters

Gustav de Smet

Fritz van den Berge

artists

Pete van der Hem

Karel Kolnot

Yap Min

Henk van den Idsert

Hugo Klaus

Constant Nieuvenhuis

Corneille

description

Mediums: watercolor, black chalk, paper.

1917

description

Mediums: charcoal, paper. Location: private collection.

1914

description

Mediums: сoal, paper.

1913

description

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

1912

description

Mediums: pencil, charcoal, pastel, paper. Location: private collection.

1910

description

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Museum of Vincent van Gogh, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

1909

description

Mediums: charcoal, pastel, paper. Location: private collection.

1904 - 1906