Corneille, born Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo on July 3, 1922, in Liège, Belgium, was a Dutch artist renowned for his vibrant and expressive works that spanned painting, printmaking, and poetry. Though born in Belgium, his Dutch parents moved back to the Netherlands when he was twelve, and it was there that he would later study art at the Academy of Art in Amsterdam. His early artistic endeavors were marked by a non-figurative approach, but as his style evolved, he began to incorporate fantasy landscapes and symbiotic representations of female figures and birds into his work, with women symbolizing beauty and voluptuousness, and birds representing freedom and strength. Corneille was a pivotal figure in the post-World War II avant-garde art scene, co-founding the REFLEX movement in 1948. The following year, he became one of the founders of the COBRA movement, which significantly influenced Scandinavian art. COBRA, an acronym derived from the cities Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam, was a collective of radical artists who sought to break away from traditional art forms. Corneille was active within the group from its inception, contributing not only his paintings but also his poetry to the COBRA magazine. He was also a co-founder of the Experimentele Groep in Holland. The COBRA movement was characterized by a directness of expression and a vibrant color palette, often drawing inspiration from primitive art forms and the artwork of children. Corneille, in particular, was inspired by the drawings of children, believing in the importance of art that resonates with their experience. His work during this period was marked by an imaginative and poetic approach, with an eccentric use of color and placement of familiar subjects such as cats, birds, and women in mythological or juvenile settings. After the dissolution of the COBRA group in 1951, Corneille moved to Paris, where he began collecting African art. This collection profoundly influenced his work, which took on a more imaginative style, characterized by aerial views of landscapes, exotic birds, and stylized forms. His art became known for its bright colors and highly imaginative paintings, which continued to spread joy and inspiration. Throughout his career, Corneille took part in hundreds of exhibitions at different galleries and is represented in museums all over the world. His work was influenced by the likes of Paul Klee and Joan Miró, and he shared a kinship with Vincent van Gogh in terms of his use of color and form. Corneille's art was also influenced by his travels to Africa, where he became well-acquainted with the culture. Corneille's contributions to the art world were not limited to his visual art; he was also an autodidact and a poet. His engagement with the written word was another facet of his creative expression, allowing him to explore the joie de vivre that also permeated his paintings. In his personal life, Corneille was known for his slight build, bearded appearance, and the violet neck-scarf he often wore. He was remembered as a kindly man with a penetrating gaze, who shared his memories and recollections of meetings with great modern masters like Picasso, Chagall, and Miró. His legacy includes not only his artwork but also his influence on younger artists and his role in shaping the post-war European art scene. Corneille passed away on September 5, 2010, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, at the age of 88. He left behind a rich body of work that continues to be celebrated for its lyrical modernism and its embodiment of the freedom and joy that he valued so highly. His spirit lives on in his brightly colored and highly imaginative paintings, which remain an important representation of his age and continue to inspire joy and creativity in the world of art.

Maestro Corneille Quotes and Sales of Works

Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current market values.

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