Reinier Sybrand Bakels Paintings

Reinier Sybrand Bakels was a Dutch legal scholar, not an artist in the traditional sense of painters or sculptors, but his contributions to the field of law and his life story are nonetheless notable. Born on August 12, 1887, in the Netherlands, Bakels grew up during a period of significant social and legal changes in his country and Europe at large.

Bakels' academic prowess led him to pursue a career in law. He studied at the University of Leiden, where he earned his degree and later his doctorate. Over the years, he became a respected legal theorist and educator. His work focused primarily on civil law, and he authored several influential texts on the subject.

In addition to his academic and legal work, Bakels faced the turmoil of World War II. During the German occupation of the Netherlands, he was outspoken against the Nazis, which led to his imprisonment in a concentration camp. This experience had a profound effect on him, both personally and professionally, and he later wrote about it. His writings from this period provide a compelling first-hand account of life under Nazi rule and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression.

After the war, Bakels continued his legal career and contributed to the rebuilding of the Dutch legal system. He remained active in academia, sharing his extensive knowledge with a new generation of lawyers and scholars. His legacy is that of a dedicated legal professional who used his expertise to guide his country through some of its darkest times and then help reconstruct it in the post-war era.

Reinier Sybrand Bakels passed away on November 15, 1966, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be referenced by legal professionals and historians. While his life was not that of a traditional artist, his articulate advocacy for justice and his scholarly contributions embody a form of artistry in their own right.