Café terrace at the Rembrandtplein

Around 1900 Amsterdam was experiencing rapid growth. Trade and urban expansions give the city dynamism again after a long time. The leading artists of Dutch modernism active in the city then, such as George Hendrik Breitner, Isaac Israels, Piet Mondrian (you can check their works in our Archive), and Leo Gestel created a beautiful picture of the city that embraces modern times with new momentum. The sparkling shades of paint brought the city to life in all its facets.

In this Leo Gestel's watercolor we see Rembrandtplein (Rembrandt square), one of the biggest squares in Amsterdam, where people still come together for a drink on one of the many terraces.

In Gestel's work we can see the Impressionists' way of looking at the world. If you would like to learn more about this groundbreaking group of French artist, check out our French Impressionists Mega Course. 

P.S. Meet Thérèse Schwartze, a painter of the Amsterdam’s elite! This way, please!  :)