Karel Appel – Paon Furieux, 1961

Signed and Dated: Hand-signed “Appel 1961” in white chalk in the lower right corner.
Titled: Inscribed with the title “Paon Furieux” in pencil along the upper center-right edge.

Executed in 1961, Paon Furieux (Furious Peacock) is a seminal mixed media work on carton that encapsulates the raw, primitive energy of Karel Appel’s mature style. The composition is a whirlwind of expressive power, featuring bold, impasto strokes of cobalt blue, emerald green, and crimson set against a dramatic black background. The titular peacock is rendered with the childlike spontaneity and “untrained” aesthetic that Appel pioneered as a founding member of the CoBrA movement.

The work vibrates with a tactile, rhythmic intensity, utilizing the brown carton support as a structural element within the vibrant field of color. Swirling lines of white and black chalk dance across the surface, adding a sense of kinetic movement and psychological urgency to the animal form. This piece stands as a powerful testament to Appel’s philosophy of “liberated art,” where the act of painting becomes a physical and emotional explosion.

Private Collection, Paris, France (acquired in the 1960s by the grandfather of the previous owner).
Private Collection, Spain (acquired from the above in 2018).

The work is in good overall condition, with the mixed media layers and pigments remaining exceptionally vibrant and well-preserved. The carton support shows minor, age-appropriate wear and slight handling marks along the unframed edges. The verso of the carton exhibits significant age-related toning and some light mottling, which is consistent with its age and material, but it does not affect the stability or appearance of the primary artwork on the front.

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