Karel Appel

KAREL APPEL (Amsterdam, 1921 – Zurich, 2006).
“Mother and Child,” 1970.
Color lithograph on paper, E.A. edition.
Signed, dated, and inscribed in pencil.
Edition of 100 copies.
The paper shows signs of oxidation.
Measurements: 70 x 52.5 cm (print size); 90 x 63 cm (paper size).

The composition brings together two intertwined faces, constructed using large areas of color and black outlines with a distinctly gestural quality. The maternal figure visually envelops the younger face, located at the bottom, establishing a relationship of closeness and protection. The oversized eyes, the overlapping profiles, and the intensity of the colors transform this emotional scene into an image of powerful expressiveness.

Appel addresses the theme of motherhood through the spontaneous and deliberately primitive style that characterizes his work. The apparent naivety of the figures echoes children’s drawings and reflects the artist’s interest in creation free from academic conventions—fundamental principles of the CoBrA group, of which he was a founding member.

Karel Appel was a key figure in the postwar European avant-garde and one of the founders of the CoBrA group. His artistic language is characterized by energetic gestures, intense color, and figuration inspired by children’s creativity and folk art. His work is included in collections such as those of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.