Karel Appel

Karel Appel (Christiaan Karel Appel; 1921 – 2006) was a painter, sculptor, and poet from the Netherlands. Appel was a prominent figure in the European post-war art scene, as he helped to introduce a new era of expressive painting. He co-founded the avant-garde art group CoBrA (acronym for Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam), which was characterised by its experimental and expressive style. Appel’s art is often described as “childlike” and spontaneous, emphasising the freedom of artistic expression. He believed in the importance of breaking free from traditional artistic constraints and exploring the raw and instinctive aspects of creativity. His works are vibrant, and forcefully abstract, using bold, spontaneous brushwork and intense colours. His materials included oil paint, wood, and found objects, reflecting a raw, emotive style that was a reaction against the prevailing formalism of the time, emphasising freedom of colour and form in his dynamic, child-like compositions.