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1960s Karel Appel Colorful Rhino and Monkey Framed Lithograph
$850
£641.89
€734.90
CA$1,200.42
A$1,310.57
CHF 687.08
MX$15,917.42
NOK 8,580.51
SEK 8,102.29
DKK 5,485.25
About the Item
Bursting with expressive color and surreal whimsy, this lithograph by acclaimed Dutch modernist Karel Appel captures a seemingly playful encounter between a rhino and a monkey—yet there’s an undercurrent of the fantastical that stirs the imagination. The artist boldly integrated his plate signature directly into the image, a hallmark of Appel’s inventive approach that marries technique with artistry. On close inspection, the viewer discovers layers of translucent ink—each applied with intention, lending a glowing vibrancy and depth that animates the print.
Dating to the charged aesthetic climate of the 1960s, this lithograph embodies the post‑CoBrA spirit—Appel’s embrace of freedom in form, raw emotional expression, and child‑like spontaneity. It’s a rare visual poem in which abstraction resonates like a primal call, while the pair of creatures—vaguely anthropomorphic yet purely expressive—emerge with an uncanny, emotional resonance.
Measuring a commanding 30.25 inches in height (approximately 77 cm) and 22 inches in width (approximately 56 cm), with a frame depth of 0.75 inch (about 1.9 cm), the piece holds remarkable presence on the wall—inviting viewers to pause and explore. Its sizable scale enhances interpretation, encouraging the viewer’s gaze to move across the composition, catching the shifting balance between abstraction and figuration, between whimsical narrative and spontaneous form.
The print arrives framed and ready to hang, preserving its integrity while remaining approachable to collectors and designers alike. The condition is consistent with age—well-maintained, with only minor wear that supports its provenance without diminishing impact.
Born in 1921, Appel emerged as a founding member of the CoBrA avant-garde group—an incubator of radical creative thought intent on freeing art from formal constraints. His work would later find its way into the world's most prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, confirming his status in the canon of 20th-century modern art.
This lithograph is more than a print—it is a dynamic fragment of art history, alive with expression, movement, and intuition. It speaks to collectors who prize narrative depth and emotional color, to curators seeking works that blur the boundaries between high modernism and expressive spontaneity.
Vintage 1960s Karel Appel rhino and monkey framed serigraph. The bold artist made his plate signature part of the image. The layering of inks can be seen on close inspection, showing the exceptional quality of this lithograph. There is no edition or pencil signature present.
Christiaan Karel Appel (pronounced was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet. He started painting at the age of fourteen and studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in the 1940s. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde movement CoBrA in 1948. He was also an avid sculptor and has had works featured in MoMA and other museums worldwide.
- Creator:Karel Appel (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.25 in (76.84 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original condition. Framed and ready to hang.
- Seller Location:Chattanooga, TN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2255329772342
Karel Appel
Karel Appel was a founding member of COBRA, an art movement originating in Germany that strived to replicate and invoke the child’s approach to art. Within this movement he created abstracted and simplified figures, often monsters and fractured depictions of people.
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