Otto van Rees (Freiburg im Breisgau, 20 April 1884 – Utrecht, 19 May 1957) was a Dutch painter who played an important role in the European avant-garde movement of the early 20th century. He grew up in an intellectual and socialist environment; his father, Jacob van Rees, was a professor of histology at the University of Amsterdam and founded the Idealist Colony of the International Brotherhood in Blaricum in 1899. This colony served as a meeting place for freethinkers, anarchists, philosophers and artists.
At the age of seventeen, Otto met Cathérine Dutilh, an artist with an artistic education from Brussels. In 1902 they started living together in a colony hut in Blaricum. In October 1904, Van Rees moved to Paris, where he settled in the Bateau-Lavoir, a breeding ground for artists in Montmartre. Here he came into contact with prominent figures such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Juan Gris. His wife, Adya Dutilh, joined him in December 1904.
During his stay in Paris, Van Rees developed his style from neo-impressionism to analytical cubism. He exhibited his work at renowned galleries and took part in important exhibitions, including the Sonderbund in Cologne (1912) and Der Sturm in Berlin (1913).
During the First World War, Van Rees stayed in Ascona, Switzerland, a refuge for artists and intellectuals. Together with Hans Arp and his wife Adya, he organised an exhibition in November 1915 at the Tanner gallery in Zurich, which is considered one of the first Dadaist exhibitions.
After the tragic death of their eldest daughter in a train accident in France, Van Rees returned to the Netherlands in 1934. Here he decorated various public buildings with murals and became a mentor for young artists.
Otto van Rees died on 19 May 1957 in Utrecht. His legacy includes a diverse oeuvre that reflects the evolution of modern art in Europe.
