Child with Birds

1948

Co-founds the CoBrA group

With Corneille, Constant and Jan Nieuwenhuys, Appel was among the founders of CoBrA: the Dutch Experimental Group was joined by the Belgian Pierre Alechinsky and the Dane Asger Jorn, and the Belgian poet Christian Dotremont coined the name from the initials of Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam. The group set out to express instinct and the subconscious through painting, in loud, bright colors and fantastic imagery.

1949

The scandalous CoBrA show at the Stedelijk Museum

Appel exhibited with the other CoBrA artists at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; the show caused a huge scandal and many objections in the press and among the public.

14 March 1949

Scandal over his fresco in Amsterdam City Hall

Appel completed the fresco “Questioning Children” commissioned for the canteen of Amsterdam City Hall, whose sketch had been approved by a city council committee. It drew a wave of harsh criticism and was covered up for ten years; after the scandal Appel began calling himself a barbarian and kept up the image, literally hurling paint at the canvas and groaning loudly as he worked.

1950

Moves to Paris

Because of the controversy and other negative Dutch reactions to CoBrA, Appel moved to Paris. From there he built an international reputation, traveling to Mexico, the United States, Yugoslavia, Brazil, Japan and China; he also lived in New York and Florence.

1952

Leaves CoBrA and joins Art Informel

Appel left CoBrA and joined the French Art Informel movement.