F.J.L. GHIJSELS. THE QUIET COLLECTOR: ARCHITECT IN INDONESIA: 1910-1929

F.J.L. Ghijsels; A Quiet Collector is the fascinating story of the evolution of an important collection of Indonesian art between 1910-1929. One of the most renowned colonial architects in the first half of the 20th century, the discovery that Ghijsels was also an avid collector comes as a surprise. Born in Java in the 19th century and educated in Holland, Ghijsels was a member of a new generation that in contrast to his predecessors greatly prized the artistic heritage of the land of his birth. A dedicated modernist, he was a member of a small but highly influential group of architects and city planners including Wolff Schoemakker, Henri Maclaine Pont and the fiery Thomas Kersten all of whom were graduates or affiliated with Delft University of Technology. Together with the architects P.A.J. Moojen and Cosmos Citroen, they would build many of the most iconic buildings, now heritage sites, in Indonesia that still influence young Indonesian architects. In addition they would, together prominent scholars, government leaders and art lovers, many who were also collectors, support cultural conferences, institutions and museums.