Lithograph in colors on Japan paper - Published by London Arts Inc. Detroit
- Suite: Cats Portfolio
Innocent Cat by Karel Appel, created in 1979, is a limited edition lithograph from the Cats Portfolio. Printed on Japan paper, this work embodies Appel’s bold, expressive style, featuring abstract forms and dynamic colors. The composition presents a fragmented, playful depiction of a cat, using vibrant hues like blue, pink, orange, and black against a rich lavender background. The cat's figure is built through thick, overlapping brushstrokes, which create a sense of movement and spontaneity. The lively, seemingly chaotic arrangement of colors and shapes captures the essence of innocence and curiosity associated with the feline subject. Published by London Arts Inc., the print highlights Appel’s characteristic approach tied to the CoBrA movement, emphasizing raw, unfiltered expression. This piece invites viewers to interpret the abstract forms and engage with the imaginative and energetic portrayal of a seemingly simple subject.
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.
LithographLithography 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.
Lithograph in colors on Japan paper - Published by London Arts Inc. Detroit
- Suite: Cats Portfolio
Innocent Cat by Karel Appel, created in 1979, is a limited edition lithograph from the Cats Portfolio. Printed on Japan paper, this work embodies Appel’s bold, expressive style, featuring abstract forms and dynamic colors. The composition presents a fragmented, playful depiction of a cat, using vibrant hues like blue, pink, orange, and black against a rich lavender background. The cat's figure is built through thick, overlapping brushstrokes, which create a sense of movement and spontaneity. The lively, seemingly chaotic arrangement of colors and shapes captures the essence of innocence and curiosity associated with the feline subject. Published by London Arts Inc., the print highlights Appel’s characteristic approach tied to the CoBrA movement, emphasizing raw, unfiltered expression. This piece invites viewers to interpret the abstract forms and engage with the imaginative and energetic portrayal of a seemingly simple subject.
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.