Leo Gestel Sunflowers 1916 - Drawing. Public domain image.

Leo Gestel (1881–1941) was a Dutch painter. His father Willem Gestel was also an artist. Leo Gestel experimented with cubism, expressionism, futurism and postimpressionism. Along with Piet Mondrian he was among the leading artists of Dutch modernism. 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.

During the 19th century, there was a great deal of interest in botany and a proliferation of botanical illustrations being produced. Many famous botanical illustrators, such as Pierre-Joseph Redouté and John James Audubon, were active during this period and produced some of the most iconic and influential botanical illustrations of all time. Botanical illustrations from the 19th century often featured detailed, accurate representations of flowers and other plants, and were created using a variety of mediums, including pencil, ink, watercolor, and colored pencils. Some of the most beautiful botanical illustrations from this period were created using watercolor, which allowed the artist to capture the delicate, transparent qualities of flowers and other plants. In addition to being used for scientific purposes, botanical illustrations from the 19th century were also highly prized for their beauty and were often used to decorate homes and other public spaces. Many of the most famous botanical illustrations from this period are still admired and collected today for their beauty and historical significance.