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A COLLECTION OF WORKS BY LOUIS VAN SOEST (DUTCH, 1867-1948)
(Lots 101-120)
Louis van Soest was born on April 1867 in Poerworedjo, Java, where his father owned the renowned sugar factory Kalibagor. Van Soest was destined to become an engineer and entered the Polytechnic in Aachen after having finished his preliminary studies in Amsterdam. Already during these early years of study, van Soest expressed a great talent for drawing. On the occasion of his parents' silver wedding anniversary in 1887, he filled an album with illustrations of his father's student years in Delft. And during a study trip to England in 1889, van Soest not only made sketches of important machinery models, but also recorded the scenery of both the Isle of White and the river Thames in London. Tow years later in 1891, van Soest decided to fully dedicate himself to his artistic vocation. Thus, without ever receiving any technical training, he became a member of the artist's society Pulchri Studio in The Hague and soon gained succes with his exhibitions.
In 1892, van Soest made a trip that would greatly influence his further career. When visiting his parents in Laag Soeren, the artist was so impressed by the tranquility of the surroundings that he decided to take up residence in a local hotel. During a period of five years van Soest captured the poetical atmosphere of this unspoilt region. His artistic preference especially went out to painting snow-covered forests and country lanes with the moon illuminating spotted birch trees. In 1899, a nocturnal forest scene in winter received great critical acclaim at Pulchri Studio and was chosen as the public's favorite. Besides his characteristic winter landscapes, van Soest's oeuvre further comprises impressionistic and colourful townviews, harbourscenes, mountain landscapes and genre pieces. Van Soest worked mostly in Holland, but also travelled to England, France, Spain, Marocco and Algiers. During his lifetime, he won many prizes including gold medals in Amsterdam in 1903 and Munchen in 1905 and exhibited in amongst others England, Germany, France and Italy.
Louis van Soest (Dutch, 1867-1948)
A moonlit forest track
Details
Louis van Soest (Dutch, 1867-1948)
A moonlit forest track
signed and dated lower left Louis W v Soest/44
oil on canvas, unframed
78 x 88 cm
A moonlit forest track
signed and dated lower left Louis W v Soest/44
oil on canvas, unframed
78 x 88 cm
Sale room notice
Please note that the present lot is dated 94 and presumably is mentioned in P.A. Haaxman's article on the artist in Elseviers Geillustreerd Maandschrift, July-December 1901, p. 731): In den zomer van 1899 had Van Soest in Pulchri een besneeuwden boschweg bij maanlicht geëxposeerd, die door de kritiek algemeen geprezen, door het publiek beschouwd werd als een der favorietstukken van de tentoonstelling".