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      Otto van Rees

      1884 - 1957

      At a glance

      • Top-ranked work: H. Benoit Labre
      • Art period: Modern
      • Nationality: Germany
      • Died: 1957
      • Works on this site: 3
      • Born: 1884, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

      The Artistic Journey of Otto van Rees

      Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Otto van Rees was a prolific artist whose career spanned several decades. After finishing high school, he moved to Paris in 1904, where he lived and worked alongside his wife, Adya Dutilh. During his time in Paris, he was part of a vibrant artistic circle, residing in the Bateau Lavoir and spending summers in Fleury-en-Bière. His work underwent significant transformations, moving from neo-impressionistic experiments focused on sunlight and perspective toward a concentration on volume and form, evolving from physic cubism to analytic cubism.

      During the first world war, Van Rees relocated to Ascona, Switzerland. In 1915, he held a famous exhibition at the gallery Tanner in Zürich alongside Arp, an event now viewed as the beginning of Dada in Zürich. Art dealer Henri Kahnweiler noted that Van Rees brought the collage technique from Paris to Zürich. Later, in 1928, he constructed a house in Losone, near Ascona, featuring a ground plan of a circle and a square.

      Later Years and Legacy

      Following the death of his oldest daughter in France, Van Rees spent increasing amounts of time in Holland, eventually moving there in 1934. In the Netherlands, he was regarded as a mentor by young painters. His artistic output was diverse, encompassing various roles such as:

      His mural paintings embellished numerous public buildings in Holland, including churches, railway stations, courthouses, ministries, and theatres. He died in Utrecht, Holland.

      Questions & Answers

      Where is Otto van Rees from?

      Otto van Rees was born in Germany.

      How many artworks by Otto van Rees are available to browse?

      You can browse 3 artworks by Otto van Rees on the All Artworks page.

      Where can I see all artworks by Otto van Rees?

      Every work by Otto van Rees on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

      Where can I find statistics about Otto van Rees's works?

      Statistics about Otto van Rees's works are available on the artist's Stats page.

      A little quiz

      There is only one correct answer for each question.

      Question 1:
      Where did Otto van Rees move in October 1904?
      Question 2:
      Which artist helped Van Rees get an atelier in the Bateau Lavoir?
      Question 3:
      In which Swiss town did Van Rees live during the first world war?
      Question 4:
      What art dealer credited Van Rees with bringing the collage technique from Paris to Zurich?
      Question 5:
      In which year did Van Rees have his first grand exhibition of 48 paintings in Rotterdam?