In 2022, * the Mondrian House acquired nine early works by Piet Mondrian from the former art collection of Johannes Esser. Who was this Esser? The museum now dedicates an exhibition to the multifaceted life of the remarkable man, who was not only an art collector, but also a plastic surgeon with ideals, general practitioner, entrepreneur and Dutch chess champion.
In 1906, Leiden doctor Johannes Esser first entered the art world and, in just seven years, assembled an impressive collection of more than 800 works. His collection included drawings, watercolours, oil sketches and paintings by artists such as Mondrian, Breitner, Israëls and Sluijters. A modest selection of these can be seen at the Mondrian House.
Johannes Fredericus Samuel Esser (1877-1946) managed to collect a surprisingly complete picture of Dutch modern art in a short time. He did this in his own unique way: by building direct and friendly relationships with the artists he admired. For instance, he got to know George Hendrik Breitner and Jan Sluijters as patients in his general practice. Through them, Esser came into contact with other talented artists. In the basement of his house, he regularly organised meetings, which Piet Mondrian, Leo Gestel and Isaac Israëls loved to attend.
But art was not his only passion. The talented Esser was also active as a chess player. He even became Dutch champion in 1913, underlining his strategic insight and analytical ability.
He also made a name for himself as a pioneer in plastic surgery during and after the First World War. He developed pioneering techniques to reconstruct mutilated faces of war victims - a field that was still in its infancy at the time. In doing so, Esser thought beyond surgery: deeply moved by human suffering, he dreamed of an island where war victims of the First World War could recover in peace and dignity. The Mondrian House also presents a picture of his efforts to realise this utopian idea.
De expositie werpt licht op het turbulente en veelzijdige leven van een gedreven kunstverzamelaar.
Johannes Esser - Inspired idealist on show from 18 October 2025 to 22 February 2026
* The acquisition was achieved with the support of Rembrandt Association (also thanks to its Mrs M. Boersma Fund, its Van Lith-Dumont Fund and its Friends Lottery Acquisition Fund), the Municipality of Amersfoort, Social Cultural Fund De Amersfoortse and the Friends of the Mondrian House.
Johannes Esser as a switching ship's doctor in Venezuela, 1904