Karel Appel (1921-2006) - Clown Visage Paysage

"Clown Visage Paysage" (Clown Face Landscape) — from the celebrated Circus ("Le Cirque") series by Karel Appel.

This is one of five works from the Circus series I'm offering here, all bearing the same edition number — 105/130 — meaning they come from the same original numbered portfolio. Each is sold as a separate lot, so you can acquire a single work or bid across several to build a rare set of matching impressions. (You can see all five under my other objects in this auction.)

Color woodcut with carborundum on Arches paper, 1978. Signed in white crayon and numbered 105/130, from an edition of 130 plus 20 artist's proofs in Roman numerals. Printed by Arts-Litho, Paris, and published by ABCD Editeur, Paris. In excellent condition.

A vivid, expressionist composition in Appel's instantly recognizable palette, with the carborundum lending the surface a rich, tactile relief that gives each impression real depth.

Karel Appel (1921–2006) is one of the foremost figures of postwar European avant-garde art. In 1948 he co-founded the Cobra movement in Paris together with Constant, Corneille, Asger Jorn, Christian Dotremont and Joseph Noiret; the wider Cobra circle also included Pierre Alechinsky and Carl-Henning Pedersen. The Circus series is among his most sought-after print portfolios.

Provenance:
- Galerie Léger, Malmö
- Uppsala Auktionskammare, Stockholm, one of the world's oldest auction houses
- Private collection

The work will be carefully packaged and shipped in a solid tube.