Gestel was first instructed in art by his father, Willem Gestel, the director of an art school, and his uncle,
Dimmen Gestel, who had painted with
Vincent van Gogh. Due to financial problems Gestel created advertisements (e.g. for
Philips) for illustrated books. While in
Paris he came in contact with the
avant-garde movement. In 1913
Herwarth Walden offered him the chance to exhibit work in the "
Erster Deutscher Herbstsalon" in
Berlin. Generally Gestel spent the summer in
Bergen, where he joined the
Bergen School. In 1929 the majority of his works were lost when a fire destroyed his studio. He then moved to
Blaricum. == Public collections ==