Personnage

Accession Number
1964/1.122

Title
Personnage

Artist(s)
Karel Appel

Artist Nationality
Dutch (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1940-1964

Medium & Support
lithograph on paper

Dimensions
29 1/2 in x 21 9/16 in (74.9 cm x 54.8 cm);29 1/2 in x 21 9/16 in (74.93 cm x 54.77 cm);25 5/16 in x 18 9/16 in (64.3 cm x 47.15 cm);32 in x 26 1/16 in (81.2 cm x 66.2 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
This work is characteristic of Appel's expressive, often chaotic style. A founder of the Dutch group Cobra and influenced by the style of Art Brut, Appel was inspired by a raw and dynamic aesthetic. He was interested in the art of children and his depictions of characters such as this one, often toe the line between abstraction and figuration. He was interested in creating speedy, spontaneous works as he believed that such implusive actions led to the truest images.

Physical Description
This color lithograph depicts an abstract human figure outlined with expressive black lines. The figure is white with areas of yellow, pink and red throughout the face and torso. The background of the work is blue with a burst of green in the center behing the figure.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
abstraction
children's art
color lithographs
figures (representations)
modern and contemporary art
woman

& Author Notes

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