Broer Dobbelsteen (1936-2019) - Geel, Zwart en Rood

Monumental oil painting on canvas by Broer Dobbelsteen (1936–2019), executed in a pronounced expressionistic visual language. The composition is governed by a capricious, highly simplified figure form that stretches across almost the entire canvas. Wavy red contours move through heavy areas of deep blue and black, while a warm yellow ground envelops the scene. Scattered yellow and red accents interrupt the dark core and reinforce the rhythm of the composition.

The paint is applied liberally and locally very thickly. Broad strokes, built-up edges, and abrupt transitions between color fields give the surface a pronounced relief and physical presence. The depiction moves between figuration and abstraction: separate fleshy-like shapes can be recognized, but are incorporated into a dynamic network of lines and color planes. In the lower left, the work is monogrammed ‘BD’. Dimensions of the canvas about 120 × 140 cm; framed about 127 × 147 cm.

Artist biography
Broer Dobbelsteen, born Johannes Anthonius van den Dobbelsteen (Mierlo, 1936–2019), was a Brabant painter who studied at the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven. After initially working as a designer, he devoted himself entirely to free art from 1964 onward. His painting is characterized by powerful color fields, simplified forms, and a spontaneous, highly material painting treatment. The experimental painting of CoBrA is cited as an inspiration, without Dobbelsteen himself belonging to that movement. Metzemakers Kunstmakelaardij
Characteristic of his method was the thick and direct application of paint, among other things with a palette knife and straight from the tube. The Van Abbemuseum documents both a monograph from 1996 about his life and work and a separate artist archive dedicated to Dobbelsteen.