3 november 2013

CoBrA exhibition

Museum De Buitenplaats in Eelde (near Groningen) currently has an exhibition of the CoBrA group. CoBrA was a European avant-garde movement active from 1948 to 1951. Their working method was based on spontaneity and experiment, and they drew their inspiration in particular from children’s drawings and primitive art forms. The painting above is called 'Les Contes des Perrault' and was created by Corneille (1922-2010), one of the founders of the movement. Corneille was born in Belgium, although both his parents were Dutch.

Karel Appel (1921-2006), a Dutch painter, sculptor and poet, was also one of the founders and the most famous Dutch artist of the movement. This work is called 'Purple Owl'.

More work by Karel Appel. It is obvious that the members of CoBrA chose complete freedom of colour and form. The new art of CoBrA however was not popular in the Netherlands at first, only after 1990 it became loved and respected.

The name CoBrA comes from the initials of the member's home cities: Copenhagen (Co), Brussels (Br) and Amsterdam (A). And even though the movement stopped to exist after 3 years, their art is still very popular. 


3 opmerkingen:

  1. Is dit werk wat niet te zien is in het cobra museum in Amstelveen? (moet tot mijn spijt bekennen dat ik daar nog nooit geweest ben). Ziet er goed uit.

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    1. Ik heb nergens gelezen of dit wel of niet in Amstelveen te zien is of was. Wel dat het voor het eerst is dat werk van de Cobra groep in het noorden van Nederland te zien is.

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  2. Mooie tentoonstelling, Cobra was echt een doorbraak in die tijd, heb een keer een rondleiding met gids gehad in het Cobra museum in Amstelveen.

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