Karel Appel – Composition, 1954 – gouache on paper, professionally framed

An original abstract gouache on paper. Painted by Karel Appel in 1954. Signed and dated. Professionally framed in a partly gilt wooden frame, museumglass.

About Karel Appel

Karel Appel (Amsterdam 1921 – Zürich 2006) was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and muralist known for his bold colors and expressive style. As a co-founder of the CoBrA movement, he played a key role in shaping modern art in post-war Europe. His spontaneous and energetic approach made him one of the most recognized artists of his time.

Born on April 25, 1921, in Amsterdam, Christiaan Karel Appel grew up in a working-class family. His father was a barber, and though his family did not initially support his artistic ambitions, he pursued painting from a young age. In 1942, he enrolled at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (Royal Academy of Fine Arts) in Amsterdam, where he studied traditional techniques but was also drawn to modern influences like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

World War II had a significant impact on Appel and other young artists of his generation. In response to the destruction and hardships of the time, he sought a new form of artistic expression—one that was raw, free, and unrestrained.
In 1948, Appel co-founded the CoBrA movement alongside Dutch, Danish, and Belgian artists, including Corneille and Asger Jorn. The movement emphasized spontaneous, childlike imagery and rejected formal artistic traditions. CoBrA artists were inspired by folk art, non-Western influences, and the uninhibited creativity of children.

One of Appel’s early works, Questioning Children (1949), a mural in Amsterdam’s city hall, caused controversy due to its rough, almost primitive style. It was initially covered up but later recognized as an important example of post-war European art.
After CoBrA dissolved in 1951, Appel moved to Paris, where he continued to develop his style. His use of thick paint, bright colors, and distorted figures became his signature. His work started gaining attention internationally, leading to exhibitions across Europe and the United States.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Appel expanded his artistic practice beyond painting, creating sculptures and assemblages using found materials. He also worked on large murals and public artworks. Over time, his work became more abstract, though it retained a sense of energy and movement.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Appel’s reputation grew, and he received major commissions, including a ceiling painting for the Opera of Amsterdam. Museums around the world, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, held retrospectives of his work.
Karel Appel passed away on May 3, 2006, in Zurich, Switzerland. His work remains in major museum collections, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.