Painted Stone Relief -Hand signed and numbered by Appel
Karel Appel’s Floating Family (1976) is a vibrant painted stone relief that exemplifies his bold and expressive style. This circular work, hand-signed and numbered, features abstract, overlapping faces and forms that seem to emerge organically from the black background. Rendered in bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens, the figures appear interconnected, evoking a sense of unity within the chaos. The rough textures and layered shapes bring depth to the composition, creating a tactile quality that enhances its sculptural presence. Floating Family captures Appel's fascination with primal expression and the interconnectedness of human forms, transforming stone into an energetic and emotive celebration of family and togetherness.
Karel Appel (Netherlands, 1921–2006) was a co-founder of the CoBrA movement, known for his expressive, colorful paintings and sculptures. Inspired by childlike spontaneity and raw emotion, Appel used bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors to challenge conventional art forms. His works, celebrated worldwide, reflect his belief in the primal power of creativity and imagination.
StoneStone is a hard, natural material found in the ground and used for various artistic purposes, such as carving statues, creating jewelry, and assembling mosaics. Artists and rock collectors often seek out interesting stones to cut, polish, and incorporate into their artwork.
Painted Stone Relief -Hand signed and numbered by Appel
Karel Appel’s Floating Family (1976) is a vibrant painted stone relief that exemplifies his bold and expressive style. This circular work, hand-signed and numbered, features abstract, overlapping faces and forms that seem to emerge organically from the black background. Rendered in bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens, the figures appear interconnected, evoking a sense of unity within the chaos. The rough textures and layered shapes bring depth to the composition, creating a tactile quality that enhances its sculptural presence. Floating Family captures Appel's fascination with primal expression and the interconnectedness of human forms, transforming stone into an energetic and emotive celebration of family and togetherness.
Karel Appel (Netherlands, 1921–2006) was a co-founder of the CoBrA movement, known for his expressive, colorful paintings and sculptures. Inspired by childlike spontaneity and raw emotion, Appel used bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors to challenge conventional art forms. His works, celebrated worldwide, reflect his belief in the primal power of creativity and imagination.
Karel Appel studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. His first solo exhibition took place in 1946 in Groningen. In the years following the end of World War Two he developed his own unique style of art, using found objects and pieces of timber in assemblages and other artworks. His earliest themes were associated with imagery of childhood, often featuring grotesque humans, monsters and animal forms. He was one of the founders of the Dutch Experimental Group in 1948, along with Guillaume Corneille and Constant Nieuwenhuys. All three artists left Amsterdam and moved to Paris, where they joined with Belgian and Danish artists to form the Cobra international art group.
Art Brut, a French term meaning Raw Art, was coined by Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the conventional fine arts tradition. Dubuffet used the term to refer to works made by self-taught artists, including the mentally ill, prisoners, and others on the margins of society. He also called it Outsider Art. This art is characterized by its raw, unrefined nature, often created without concern for traditional presentation or imitation.