Corneille

Belgian, 1922-2010

The Dutch artist Corneille created lyrical, expressionist paintings bursting with color and was one of the founders of the postwar European art movement known as Cobra. Corneille was best known for radicalizing the conservative Dutch art world in the early 1950s, making modern art not only acceptable, but embraceable as well. He placed familiar subjects — birds, cats, women and landscapes — in mythological and often childlike contexts, imbuing them with spontaneity and bright, sensual reds. "I am a painter of joy," Corneille remarked at a 2007 exhibition of his work at the Cobra Museum, said Katja Weitering, the artistic director of the museum, in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam. "He was really an artist for all people," she said. "He was open to the audience; he appeared in documentaries, on television, and frequently visited exhibitions. It's safe to say we consider him one of the most important modern artists of the postwar." In the Netherlands, she added, his fame and influence derived from the appeal of Cobra. Born Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo to Dutch parents on July 3, 1922, in Liège, Belgium, Corneille was influenced by Miró, Picasso and Paul Klee but claimed the most profound connection to van Gogh because of their shared passion for color, form and nature. Corneille founded Cobra in 1948 with five other artists, including his close friends Karel Appel and Constant Nieuwenhuys. The name was an acronym made up of the artists' home cities — Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam. The artists drew inspiration from surrealism, but believed that style promoted too much discussion and not enough action. Instead, Corneille and his friends formed a united front in postwar Europe, urging a break from tradition and toward freedom and vitality. In an intense three years, Cobra produced two major international exhibitions and published 10 issues of a magazine for which Corneille wrote poetry. Cobra disbanded in 1951, saying it had achieved its goals, and the artists returned to their individual careers. Corneille began his artistic life in 1940, studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. Though he made his home base in Paris in the early 1950s, he traveled extensively in Africa, Cuba, Brazil, and Mexico. In Africa he became fascinated by the colors, smells and cultures, Ms. Weitering said, collecting brightly painted objects like the masks he later used as themes. He also spent time in Italy, Israel and San Francisco, expanding his repertory to include etching, ceramics and printmaking. Beyond the Netherlands, Corneille's work is in the collections of several American museums, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Average Sold Price

$255

Styles

Materials

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CorneilleCat and Bird at the Sunset - Original Handsigned Lithograph, 1991

$699

H 20.87 in W 29.93 in

Cat and Bird at the Sunset - Original Handsigned Lithograph

By Corneille

Located in Paris, IDF

Guillaume Corneille (1922-2010) Cat and Bird at the Sunset, 1991 Original color lithograph Signed and dated in pencil Artist proof On vellum, 53 x 76 cm (c. 21 x 30 in) Very good ...

Category

1990s Surrealist Corneille

Materials

Lithograph

CorneilleLE VOYAGE de L'OISEAU Signed Lithograph, Reclining Nude, Exotic Orange Bird, 1981

$2,400Sale Price|25% Off

H 19.75 in W 25.5 in

LE VOYAGE de L'OISEAU Signed Lithograph, Reclining Nude, Exotic Orange Bird

By Corneille

Located in Union City, NJ

LE VOYAGE de L'OISEAU is an original hand drawn limited edition lithograph by the Dutch artist known as CORNEILLE(Guillaume van Beverloo) an abstract expressionist who co-founded the 20th Century experimental art movement CoBrA recognized for their spontaneous, rebellious style of painting that was heavily inspired by the art of children and the mentally ill. Corneille devises his colorful fantastic imagery with exotic plant forms, sensuous female bodies, animals and lively pattern design. LE VOYAGE de L'OISEAU depicts a reclining female nude whose yellow ochre body outlined with vibrant green, rests on deep burgundy colored background looking upward as a brightly colored exotic orange bird...

Category

1980s Contemporary Corneille

Materials

Lithograph

CorneilleTête bleue, 1998

$652

H 18.9 in W 14.18 in

Tête bleue

By Corneille

Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län

Created 1998, engraving. Publisher GKM. Unframed. Edition of 80 ex. Signed, dated and numbered. Free shipment worldwide. Corneille, one of the founders of the COBRA group, has pas...

Category

1990s Contemporary Corneille

Materials

Engraving

CorneillePhantom of Opera, 1993

$889

H 34.65 in W 25.6 in

Phantom of Opera

By Corneille

Located in Paris, FR

Silksreen, 1993 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and annotated EA Artist proof 88.00 cm. x 65.00 cm. 34.65 in. x 25.59 in. (paper) 74.50 cm. x 54.50 cm. 29.33 in. x 21.46 in. (i...

Category

1990s Abstract Corneille

Materials

Silk

CorneilleLouis Carroll, Surrealist Lithograph by Corneille, 1989

$1,400

H 30 in W 22 in

Louis Carroll, Surrealist Lithograph by Corneille

By Corneille

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Corneille, Belgian (1922 - 2010) Title: Carroll from the Portfolio of Six Reves Peints Year: 1989 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: XVI/XXX Image Si...

Category

1980s Corneille

Materials

Lithograph

CorneilleLes nourritures terrestres, 1997

$355

H 16.54 in W 12.21 in

Les nourritures terrestres

By Corneille

Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län

Publisher GKM. Unframed. Edition of 200 ex. Paper: 300gr. Goya. Signed, dated and numbered. Free shipment worldwide. Corneille, one of the founders of the COBRA group, has passed aw...

Category

1990s Contemporary Corneille

Materials

Screen

CorneilleÉté souverain, 1987

$2,016

H 37.41 in W 29.93 in

Été souverain

By Corneille

Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län

Publisher GKM. Unframed. Edition of 150 ex. Paper: 300gr. Goya. Signed, dated and numbered. Free shipment worldwide. Corneille, one of the founders of the COBRA group, has passed aw...

Category

1980s Contemporary Corneille

Materials

Screen

CorneilleFemme en Bleu, Wall/Table Sculpture by Corneille, circa 1980

$18,000

H 20.5 in W 44 in D 3 in

Femme en Bleu, Wall/Table Sculpture by Corneille

By Corneille

Located in Long Island City, NY

This painted wood sculpture by the Belgian artist Corneille, circa 1980, is an expressionist rendering of a two nudes. Corneille was influenced by Miró, Picasso and Paul Klee but cl...

Category

1980s Modern Corneille

Materials

Wood, Paint

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Corneille Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Medium

Creation Year

2026	$60	Nude Prints	Offset Print	1996
2025	$374	Prints and Multiples, Figurative Prints	Engraving	1998

$255

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$60-$450

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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Corneille art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Corneille art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Corneille in lithograph, screen print, engraving and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Corneille art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Martine Goeyens, Enrico Baj, and Nicola Simbari. Corneille art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $324 and tops out at $48,543, while the average work can sell for $1,421.

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