Leo Eland

1884 – 1952

Leonardus Joseph Eland (1884–1952), better known as Leo Eland, was born in Salatiga, Central Java. A self-taught artist, he became one of the most notable painters associated with the Mooi Indië genre during the first half of the twentieth century.

In his early years, he traveled widely across Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Bali, where the tropical scenery and everyday life became enduring themes in his work. His close friendship with painter Carel Dake Jr. further helped him refine his skills and artistic vision. By the 1930s, his career flourished, with international exhibitions in Brussels, Antwerp, Paris, Milan, Leipzig, Dresden, and at world expositions in New York and San Francisco (1939). At the 1931 Colonial Exposition in Paris, his oil paintings and detailed dioramas, attracted great admiration, even from Queen Wilhelmina at the official opening.