a woman in a black dress and a man in a suit dancing flamingo
a woman in a black dress and a man in a suit dancing flamingo
water color painting of a tree and residence in Carmel California
water color painting of a tree and residence in Carmel California
painting of a flamenco dancer
painting of a flamenco dancer

Victor & Janet

Victor Di Gesu – Water Color; Carmel

Both Victor and Janet identified with the Modern Art movement which challenged established beliefs about what art actually was. For Victor, art was a serious endeavor. While his painting style was expressive, there was a profound influence of line. And, he possessed a natural talent for capturing the spirit of whoever and whatever he painted.

Bohemian to their core, Victor and Janet endured both financial and personal hardship in their lifetime. But they seem to have been perfectly matched in their love for each other, and in their shared philosophy that the most important thing–was an art life well lived. Had Victor not met Janet in post war Los Angeles, he may have continued his commercial art career. But Victor met Janet and that made all of the difference.

Around 2010, an art dealer liquidated Di Gesu’s estate on ebay, and this is how I came to acquire a collection of his work at the heart of my short doc film. Some works are studies where Victor explored color. Some are signed indicating that they may be finished works. All possess spontaneous bursts and have a  style unique to Victor Di Gesu.

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Victor Di Gesu (1914-1988) was a modern artist and member of the Carmel Art Association (CAA). He worked in character animation at Disney before enlisting in the military to serve in World War II. Returning to Europe after the war,  Victor studied (with the help of GI funds) at an atelier in Paris, exhibited at the Louvre, and painted his way around Spain and Italy. 

Married to fellow CAA artist Janet de la Roche (1916-2000), the two were early settlers of an art colony in Del Monte Park. The couple were known to share their art and music and dancing, and had an affinity for the younger generations in Pacific Grove.

SHORT
DOC

cartoon depicting dancers
cartoon depicting dancers

Victor and his first published cartoon at age 17

Victor Di Gesu as a high school student in 1932
Victor Di Gesu as a high school student in 1932

'Finding Victor'

© jean mcintosh

in the making

jean mcintosh

Victor Di Gesu – Oil on Paper

* I always find speaking with those who knew Victor & Janet to be the most helpful in advancing this project. Please contact me if you knew Victor or Janet and would like to share a story. I'd love to hear from you!

jean mcintosh

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