Deux têtes, Serie Personages
- Original lithograph on paper
- Hand signed and dated
- Image size 19.8 x 23.6 in. (50.4 x 59.8 cm)
Serie Personages by Karel Appel, created in 1969, is a dynamic and expressive lithograph showcasing Appel’s mastery of vibrant color and abstracted forms. The artwork features two large, abstracted human faces rendered in bold, blocky shapes of red, blue, green, yellow, and black. The figures’ exaggerated eyes and mouths, along with their fragmented, overlapping forms, convey a sense of emotional intensity and movement. This piece is characteristic of Appel's style, where childlike spontaneity is combined with expressive abstraction, embodying the energy and raw emotion that define much of his work. The use of thick outlines and vivid colors creates a striking contrast, while the abstracted forms give the figures a sense of vitality and presence. Part of his Serie Personages, this lithograph exemplifies Appel's focus on human figures and emotions. The print is hand-signed and dated by the artist, further adding to its significance as a limited edition work.
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.
Lithograph Lithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was drawn with wax, fat, or oil onto a lithographic limestone surface or plate. Today, metal plates and other surfaces are also used in lithographic printing.
Deux têtes, Serie Personages
- Original lithograph on paper
- Hand signed and dated
- Image size 19.8 x 23.6 in. (50.4 x 59.8 cm)
Serie Personages by Karel Appel, created in 1969, is a dynamic and expressive lithograph showcasing Appel’s mastery of vibrant color and abstracted forms. The artwork features two large, abstracted human faces rendered in bold, blocky shapes of red, blue, green, yellow, and black. The figures’ exaggerated eyes and mouths, along with their fragmented, overlapping forms, convey a sense of emotional intensity and movement. This piece is characteristic of Appel's style, where childlike spontaneity is combined with expressive abstraction, embodying the energy and raw emotion that define much of his work. The use of thick outlines and vivid colors creates a striking contrast, while the abstracted forms give the figures a sense of vitality and presence. Part of his Serie Personages, this lithograph exemplifies Appel's focus on human figures and emotions. The print is hand-signed and dated by the artist, further adding to its significance as a limited edition work.
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.
Action Painting is a style of painting where the physical act of creating art—such as gestural brushstrokes, splashing or dripping paint, or moving and dancing while applying paint—is considered essential to the artwork itself. This approach emphasizes the artist's movement and spontaneity as integral to the creative process.