Leonid Gechtoff (Russian/American, 1883-1941)
Expressionist Seascape, 1938
Oil on board | Signed and dated lower right
About the Artist
Leonid Gechtoff was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1883. After immigrating to Cairo in 1912, he spent nearly a decade traveling through Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines, before settling in Philadelphia in 1921. His extensive travels deeply influenced his artistic style, which blended Russian Expressionism with American scene painting. Active in Philadelphia's art scene during the 1920s-30s, his works are held in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
The Painting
This 1938 seascape demonstrates Gechtoff's mature style:
- Thick, textured impasto brushwork
- Dramatic contrast of stormy blues and white foam
- Balance of realism and emotional expression
- Strong compositional movement
Details
- Signed and dated "Gechtoff 1938" lower right
- Original unlined board in good condition
- Age-appropriate wear with natural craquelure
- No restoration or structural issues
Dimensions
24 x 30.25 inches (61 x 77 cm)
Leonid Gechtoff (Russian/American, 1883-1941)
Expressionist Seascape, 1938
Oil on board | Signed and dated lower right
About the Artist
Leonid Gechtoff was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1883. After immigrating to Cairo in 1912, he spent nearly a decade traveling through Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines, before settling in Philadelphia in 1921. His extensive travels deeply influenced his artistic style, which blended Russian Expressionism with American scene painting. Active in Philadelphia's art scene during the 1920s-30s, his works are held in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
The Painting
This 1938 seascape demonstrates Gechtoff's mature style:
- Thick, textured impasto brushwork
- Dramatic contrast of stormy blues and white foam
- Balance of realism and emotional expression
- Strong compositional movement
Details
- Signed and dated "Gechtoff 1938" lower right
- Original unlined board in good condition
- Age-appropriate wear with natural craquelure
- No restoration or structural issues
Dimensions
24 x 30.25 inches (61 x 77 cm)
