// Salto sobre la cabeza by Karel Appel, created in 1988, is an expressive etching and aquatint that captures Appel's bold and gestural approach to abstraction. The piece presents dynamic, loosely defined figures rendered in thick, black lines against a warm, peach-toned background. The forms appear to depict a figure in mid-air, seemingly performing a leap or jump over another figure's head, suggesting movement and energy. Splashes of red and orange add vibrancy and depth, reinforcing the sense of action and spontaneity typical of Appel's style. This limited edition print, measuring 76 cm by 55 cm, reflects Appel's exploration of raw emotion and primal expression, hallmarks of the COBRA movement he helped establish. The work invites viewers to interpret its forms and gestures, evoking themes of freedom, vitality, and playful rebellion.
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.
Etching and AquatintEtching and aquatint are printmaking techniques. In aquatint, the printing plate is etched with a pattern of tiny pits and cracks to create a wide range of tonal gradations. This technique allows artists to replicate the broad, flat tones found in watercolor paintings and ink washes.
// Salto sobre la cabeza by Karel Appel, created in 1988, is an expressive etching and aquatint that captures Appel's bold and gestural approach to abstraction. The piece presents dynamic, loosely defined figures rendered in thick, black lines against a warm, peach-toned background. The forms appear to depict a figure in mid-air, seemingly performing a leap or jump over another figure's head, suggesting movement and energy. Splashes of red and orange add vibrancy and depth, reinforcing the sense of action and spontaneity typical of Appel's style. This limited edition print, measuring 76 cm by 55 cm, reflects Appel's exploration of raw emotion and primal expression, hallmarks of the COBRA movement he helped establish. The work invites viewers to interpret its forms and gestures, evoking themes of freedom, vitality, and playful rebellion.
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.