Geer Van Velde (1898–1977) was born in Lisse, a small town in the Netherlands. Alongside his older brother Bram, who would also become a notable painter, Geer endured a childhood marked by poverty and hardship after their father abandoned the family. Early on, he apprenticed with the decorating firm Schaijk and Eduard H. Kramers, which provided foundational training in craftsmanship and design before he moved to Paris to join his brother and immerse himself in the vibrant artistic scene of the city.

In Paris, Geer was initially influenced by Marc Chagall, the Russian-born French modernist whose pioneering figural work left a lasting impression on the young artist. Van Velde began by painting subjects drawn from nature, but he soon shifted toward exploring the relationships between abstract geometric shapes. This evolution in his style reflected a rigorous and lifelong engagement with the Cubist principles that would guide his work throughout his career.

Geer remained extremely close to Bram, and their artistic dialogue was both collaborative and competitive. An exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon in 2010 highlighted the ways the brothers influenced each other while pursuing distinct artistic directions. Together, their work responded to and shaped the aesthetic challenges of pre- and post–World War II Europe, forming a vital part of the École de Paris. Geer Van Velde’s art consistently demonstrated a commitment to abstraction, geometric structure, and the modernist exploration of form and color, securing his legacy as a key figure in 20th-century European painting.