Leo Gestel

Self Portrait, by Leo Gestel. Pencil on paper, 1913

Leo Gestel (11 November 1881, Woerden – 26 November 1941, Hilversum) was a Dutch painter. His father Willem Gestel was also an artist. Leo Gestel experimented with cubism, expressionism, futurism and postimpressionism. Along with Piet Mondrian he was among the leading artists of Dutch modernism.

Life

Leo Gestel 'Herfstdag te Nijmegen . Autumn day at Nijmegen, 1909

Gestel was first instructed in art by his father, Willem Gestel, the director of an art school, and his uncle, Dimmen Gestel, who had painted with Vincent van Gogh. Due to financial problems Gestel created advertisements (e.g. for Philips) for illustrated books.

While in Paris he came in contact with the avant-garde movement. In 1913 Herwarth Walden offered him the chance to exhibit work in the "Erster Deutscher Herbstsalon" in Berlin. Generally Gestel spent the summer in Bergen, where he joined the Bergen School. In 1929 the majority of his works were lost when a fire destroyed his studio; he then moved to Blaricum.

Public collections

• Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar, Alkmaar
• Drents Museum, Assen
• Museum De Hallen, Haarlem
• Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
• Singer Laren, Laren
• Kröller-Müller museum, Otterlo
• Museum van Bommel van Dam, Venlo
• Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle

• Leo Gestel's works
• 
  Mallorca, Terreno
• 
  Blue tree
• 
  Nude
• 
  Idle moments
• 
  Boats along the shore 1908
• 
  Flowers, 1913
• 
  Portrait of Else Berg, 1913
• 

References

• Trappeniers, Maureen S. "Gestel, Leo." In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, (accessed February 3, 2012; subscription required).
• Leo gestel in the RKD

External links

• Entry for Leo Gestel on the Union List of Artist Names
• More information on artfacts.net.
• Leo Gestel on ArtCyclopedia