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FROM THE ESTATE OF DOLF BREETVELT After Dolf (Adolf) Breetvelt studied arts at the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague he left The Netherlands in 1920 at the age of 27. He became a drawing teacher in Batavia and Surabaya in the Dutch Indies. In his spare time he painted in realistic and surrealistic style (lot 465). He retired in 1937 and immediately started travelling to exotic destinations like Formosa, Japan, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Egypt. In 1939, after two years of travelling, Breetvelt decided to take up permanent residence in Amsterdam. Living of his pension he could totally concentrate on painting. His style changes from Nieuwe Zakelijkheid to a more free and personal expressionistic style. In 1949 Breetvelt joined Vrij Beelden, a group of artists that strived for a more abstract painterly style. After WW II Breetvelt worked in an abstract style and from then on he started exhibiting with this group of artists. The critics liked his work, but did not understand it, which is made clear by the following statement: 'in alle abstracte onbegrijpelijkheid prettig van kleur en sierlijk van lijn'. (Caroline Roodenburg-Schadd, Vrij Beelden en Creatie, 1996, p. 40) In 1951 Breetvelt started sculpting as well. At first he made wooden sculptures. Lots 468 and 471 are examples of his early totempole-like sculptures that are inspired by primitive cultures. Later on he worked with other materials as well.

Dolf Breetvelt (Dutch, 1892-1975)

Surrealistic landscape with masks

Details

Dolf Breetvelt (Dutch, 1892-1975)
Surrealistic landscape with masks
signed 'A. Breetvelt' (lower right)
oil on canvas
85 x 106 cm.

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 23.205% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €110,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €110,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 23.205% of the first €110,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €110,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

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