Temple In Gresik (east Java) - Gerard Pieter Adolfs - Pastel On Paper - Indonesia

- Temple entrance to Gresik. (Java) - Gerard Pieter Adolfs (1898 - 1948) Born in Semarang on the island of Java to a Dutch father and a Javanese mother, Gerard Pieter left at the age of 14 to continue his studies in Holland and entered 18 years at the University of Amsterdam to study architecture. After graduating in 1919, he soon left for Java, where he missed the atmosphere. At the age of 24 he decided to give up architecture to devote himself entirely to painting, although he had never received any academic training. All he has to do is study the works of the old masters and explore the rich colors of Javanese nature. First exhibition in 1924. Departure in 1928 for a seven-month study trip which took him to Europe via Cairo, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Paris and then Amsterdam. He carefully studied the great masters of the Renaissance and returned to the Dutch East Indies full of new impressions and ideas. Back in Java, GP Adolfs is a recognized painter whose personal style is highly regarded. The exhibitions follow one another until 1934, the date of departure for his second study trip to Europe. He continues his study of the great masters and exhibits, notably in Amsterdam, London, The Hague where we admire his ability to restore the light of the tropics. In 1936, he left for four months in Japan, made many sketches and oils there, exhibited in Tokyo where he met his friend Foujita, known in Paris. Back to Indonesia and a new start in early 1939 for China, again Japan, Canada, the United States and Europe before returning to Java. After a final exhibition in Batavia, he left Indonesia in 1940 forever. He spent the war years in Amsterdam, settled there permanently and produced numerous paintings, most of them inspired by his native country. He still made a few trips to Europe and North Africa until 1967. The work presented here is a pastel from his first years (Entrée de temple à Gresik. Java)