Christiaan Karel Appel (1921 - 2006)

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Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch artist, who cofounded the avant-garde movement Cobra in 1948. Appel was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he lived for most of his life. As a teenager, Appel was given a set of paints and introductory classes by one of his uncles. Appel enjoyed painting and decided to study at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, looking at the work of Picasso, Matisse and Dubuffet.

In 1946 Appel had his first exhibition and became active in an experimental art group (Nederlandse Experimentele Groep). In 1948 Appel formed a new group known as Cobra, along with Corneille, Constant and Jan Niewenhuys. Appel's work was not easily accepted during his time. A fresco he painted in the Amsterdam City Hall was covered up for nearly a decade before being rediscovered.

In 1950 Appel moved to Paris in search of a more open-minded audience. In Paris, Appel was discovered as a great artist and quickly gained an international reputation. During the following decades, Appel travelled around the world, including visits to Brazil, Yugoslavia, the USA and Mexico. Appel continued painting frescoes, mainly in New York City and Florence.

Appel spent his last years living in Zurich, Switzerland and was buried at the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Before his death, Appel established a foundation to protect and preserve his artistic work.

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