Karel Appel - Figures
With his spontaneously looking human and animal figures in bright, unmixed colors, Karel Appel broke with traditional painting. From 1957, he traveled regularly to New York. During this period, he developed his own style, which became increasingly abstract.
His paintings often consist of multiple layers of paint, creating depth and relief. On a carefully painted background, he built up his own compositions in different stages.
Mark Smit Fine Art is situated at the banks of the Overijsselse Vecht-river, in the former town hall of Ommen. Over 150 paintings are on display, in a warm ambiance. We specialize in 19th and 20th century paintings. Our collection of paintings from the period of 1820-1970 is one of the largest and most varied in the Netherlands. The 19th century is well-represented, comprising almost every great name in the Romantic School, the Hague School and the Amsterdam Impressionists. For the 20th century paintings, emphasis lies on the ‘classical moderns’: the Luminists, the artists from the Bergen School and the Groninger Ploeg (The Plough) are well represented.
Come in and enjoy our collection!
Leo Gestel explored a wide range of artistic styles, including Cubism, Expressionism, Futurism, and Post-Impressionism. Together with Piet Mondrian and Jan Sluijters, he was one of the leading figures of Dutch Modernism. During his stays in Paris, he became closely acquainted with the city's vibrant avant-garde art scene.
Between 1905 and 1909, Gestel immersed himself in the work of the French Neo-Impressionists and Pointillists. Following a second visit to Paris in 1910, he found inspiration in modern urban life, producing works that captured the elegance and sophistication of the beau monde. This influence is clearly reflected in the painting shown here, which portrays a fashionable couple at a roller-skating rink in Amsterdam.
Roller skating in Amsterdam | Watercolour and gouache on paper 36.5 x 32 cm, ca. 1910
