LEO GESTEL | Sortie de L'Opéra

Kunsthandel Van Voorst van Beest, The Hague (acquired by 1989)
Private Collection, Verbier (sale: Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 6th December 2006, lot 16) 
Private Collection, Netherlands (purchased at the above sale)
Acquired by the present owner in 2014

The Hague, Van Voorst van Beest Gallery, Leo Gestel 1881-1941, 1989-90, n. n.
Laren, Singer Museum, Leo Gestel: Schilder en Tekenaar, 1993 - 94, no. 38, illustrated in the catalogue

The canvas is lined. Examination under UV light reveals a thick layer of varnish preventing the UV light from fully penetrating, however there are apparent spots of old retouching throughout the composition and a spot of newer retouching to the bottom of the coat of the male figure in the right of the composition. The face to the red poster along the upper edge has also been in-painted possible corresponding to an old puncture. There is shrinkage to the pigment in places, predominantly in the lighter pigments to the background and dresses of the female figures. There is frame rubbing to all four edges which is not visible when framed. This work is in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Luminists, of whom Leo Gestel, Jan Sluijters and Piet Mondrian were the leading figures, strove for an intuitively atmospheric experience of their work, in which the perception of light was of the utmost importance. From the Netherlands, Gestel, along with Sluijters, was drawn to Paris at the turn of the century to witness and be a part of the French avant-garde pursuing the development of artistic modernism. Visiting the Parisian artistic hub various times between 1904 and 1911, Gestel was most inspired by the works of Seurat and Signac. The present work is a wonderful example of Gestel’s Luminism. Fascinated about the life of the beau monde, the artist captures the moment when people file out of the theatre after a pleasant evening, congregating on the street to debrief about the prior production and to flaunt their fashionable coats and hats. The left part of the composition is bathed in warm light, highlighting the exit where the theatre-goers spill out into the dark streets. Gestel's Luminism is characterised by the juxtaposition of stark colours on the canvas, usually applied with small, sometimes coarser brush-strokes, as seen in the present lot Sortie de l'Opéra. The brisk, cold evening is skilfully conveyed by the contrast of the bright tones of the theatre with the darkness of the street to the right; the reflections of people’s feet in the glistening road instil the feeling that there had just been a downpour of rain. Gestel conjures a scene where the viewer can appreciate the sensory feelings that the people in the painting are experiencing; the high that ensues after a wonderful theatre production and the adjustment of walking out from a crowded stalls, into the cold, fresh air.

At this time, the artist societies played an important role in the diffusion of new developments in art in the Netherlands and it was the Amsterdam Society of St. Luke in particular that was prepared to open its doors to new ideas such as Amsterdam Luminism. Sortie de l'Opéra illustrates Gestel’s talent in depicting the modern Parisian atmosphere and exhibits his innovative painterly style.