Karel Appel, born in Amsterdam in 1921, is among the founding members and most important representatives of the artists group "CoBrA". With his paintings Karel Appel represented the artistic objectives of "CoBrA" and therewith the establishment of a new art of an "open form". His subversive style gradually abandoned figuration and impressed by a powerful gestus flung onto the canvas in an expressive coloring. His characteristic style can not only be observed on his paintings, but also on his collages and sculptures.
The merits of the multiple documenta participant are immeasureable for art and art history. By means of a recourse to the surrealist automatism he found a new impulsive art that was uncoupled from rational artistic means of expression. Thus he paved the path for genesis and a further development of informal art. Works by Karel Appel are in possession of renowned international collections.