Corneille: the colourful CoBrA artist of birds, women and sun
Bright colours, birds, women, the sun and summery landscapes: you recognise a work by Corneille instantly. He was one of the founders of the CoBrA movement and remains one of the best-loved artists in the Netherlands to this day. For us, Corneille is more than a name from art history. We knew him personally and worked with him.
Who was Corneille?
Corneille was born Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo on 3 July 1922 in Liège, to Dutch parents. When he was twelve, the family moved to the Netherlands. In Amsterdam he took drawing classes at the art academy, where he met Karel Appel. As a painter he was largely self-taught.
Corneille lived and worked in France for most of his life. He died on 5 September 2010 and is buried in Auvers-sur-Oise, the village where Vincent van Gogh also rests. His work can be seen in, among others, the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Corneille and CoBrA
In 1948 Corneille founded the CoBrA movement together with Karel Appel, Constant and others. The name comes from the founders' home cities: Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam. CoBrA wanted to break free of rigid rules in art and looked for spontaneity, colour and the freedom of a child's drawing. The group split up as early as 1951, but its influence can still be seen today.
How to recognise a Corneille
After CoBrA, Corneille developed his own, lighter style. A journey through the Algerian desert in 1951 made a deep impression on him, which you can see in the warm colours and landscapes that seem to be drawn from above. Typical features:
- Exuberant colours: lots of yellow, red, blue and green, often side by side in large areas.
- Birds: perhaps his best-known motif, often together with a woman.
- Women, sun and summer: Corneille celebrated life, love and nature.
- A playful, almost poetic mood: he also wrote poetry, which shows in titles such as Femme à la lune or Écoutant l'oiseau.
Silkscreen prints and lithographs by Corneille
Besides paintings, Corneille made a great deal of graphic work: silkscreen prints and lithographs in numbered editions, signed by hand. That is exactly why his work is within reach for many people. A silkscreen has the same bright colours as his paintings and looks wonderful in an interior.
We have a special bond with his silkscreens. Kunstuitleen.nl worked with Corneille and was even his official printer for silkscreen prints. Straight from the source, you could say.
A Corneille on your own wall
Our collection includes dozens of silkscreens and lithographs by Corneille, from summery landscapes to women with birds. With its bright colours, a Corneille is a real eye-catcher above the sofa, in the dining room or in a light hallway. If you rent one, we deliver and hang it for free anywhere in the Netherlands, and you first see at home which one looks best.
How to order online: click the heart on the artworks you like to save them as favourites. Then go to your favourites and reserve them. That's how you request a free trial placement.
View all artworks by Corneille or read how art rental works.