1898: Geer van Velde born at Lisse in the Netherlands.

1904: His father abandons the family home following the failure of his wood fuel business, leaving his wife and four children in a difficult financial situation.

1910: Geer becomes an apprentice designer at Schaijk & Kramers in The Hague, where he develops his interest in art. He then does his military service in the Red Cross and undertakes a walking tour of Flanders. He paints signs for a living and learns to paint from life. This will be his only training. Geer is an autodidact. 

1925: Leaves to join his brother Bram in Paris, so as to visit the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs. Decides to become a full-time painter.

1928-1932: Geer and Bram show three times at the Salon des Artistes Indépendants. Geer makes a short visit to the Côte d’Azur. In 1931, for lack of money, he has to abandon an exhibition, returning to the Netherlands before rejoining his brother in Paris.

1938: Shows 45 paintings at Peggy Guggenheim’s gallery in London.

1938-1944: Leaves Paris for Cagnes-sur-Mer. Makes friends with Pierre Bonnard and enjoys a very fruitful period of work.

1942: Solo show at the Galerie Muratore, Nice.

 

1944: Moves to Cachan, taking Tjerk Bottema’s former studio. There he definitively sets down his roots, 

and it is there that the rest of his work will be produced. Takes part in the most French art events of international significance, such as the Salon de Mai or the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles.

Makes several journeys to the Netherlands, reconnecting with the light and lucidity of his homeland. Comes to know the work of the recently deceased Piet Mondrian.

1946: Solo exhibition at Galerie Maeght, Paris.

1948: Exhibition with Bram at the Kootz Gallery, New York. Exhibition at Galerie Maeght.

1952-1962: Travels and shows abroad in the context of the new School of Paris.

1963: Solo exhibitions at the Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo Biennales in Brazil.

1965: Visits Ireland.

1966: Solo exhibition at the Musée Galliéra, Paris.

1967: Solo exhibition at the Musée de Cagnes-sur-Mer. Travels to Greece and Italy. 

1968: Visits Algeria.

1972: Visits Jerusalem. Solo exhibition at the Château de Ratilly.

1973: Homage to Geer van Velde and Braque at the Biennale de Cachan.

1976: Participates in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs retrospective on the work of the Pierlots at the Château de Ratilly.

1977: Dies at Cachan.