This expressive mixed-media work on paper (48 × 58 cm; framed 67.5 × 76.5 cm) exemplifies Dolf Breetvelt’s postwar abstract language, where gestural ink lines, gouache washes, and sharply defined geometric forms coexist with striking tension. Rendered in deep blues, blacks, and warm neutrals, the composition reflects Breetvelt’s sustained interest in the relationship between spontaneity and structure. The layering of transparent fields and graphic contours points to his mature style, shaped after his return to the Netherlands following extensive periods working abroad. Signed lower right with his characteristic pencilled “B,” the work is presented in its classic mid-century frame and remains in very good condition, with stable paper and strong colour retention.

About the Artist

Dolf Breetvelt (1892–1975) was a Dutch painter and graphic artist active within early European abstraction. He worked in Paris during formative years and later became associated with modernist circles in the Netherlands, contributing to the development of abstract art in the mid-20th century. His works are represented in several Dutch public collections, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Kröller-Müller Museum, and the Museum Arnhem, institutions that hold important examples of his graphic and painted oeuvre. Known for blending expressive gesture with architectural precision, Breetvelt remains a significant figure in Dutch modernism.

A strong, representative example from an artist with solid museum presence and historical importance.