The artwork titled “1949” by Karel Appel, dates back to the year 1949. It belongs to the figurative genre, characteristic of giving form to abstract concepts through recognizable figures. The composition is marked by vibrant color use and abstract depictions of uncanny, almost childlike figures which appear to interact in a dynamic and whimsical setting.
Upon viewing the artwork, one encounters a striking contrast of colors and shapes. Dominating the artwork is a large red and blue-faced figure with a vaguely human form, juxtaposed against smaller, more fantastical creatures. A speckled animal stands beside the main figure, displaying a sense of playfulness. Central to the composition, a blue creature with outstretched arms grabs attention, while a bird-like figure with a yellow and green body seems to be in mid-motion. In the background, the abstract suggestion of a building or structure, depicted in yellow with red and black outlines, grounds these imaginary beings in a fantastical narrative space. The artist’s signature at the bottom right authenticates this imaginative, vibrant piece.
