Here we have an original CoBrA-esque surreal painting that radiates the kind of raw, unpolished energy that will rewire your brain and bring the room together. It isn't just a painting; it’s an atmosphere. Featuring a haunting, mask-like central figure with disembodied eyes and vibrant, swirling vortexes, the work feels like a fever dream pulled from the post-war European underground. It is an exploding sick-ness, and who needs the cure?
The medium is a heavy, tactile wax pastel applied to cardstock with a "heavy hand" that you can feel through the colors. On the reverse, the "ghosting" of the pigments tells the silent story of its age—decades of history breathing through the paper.
Here’s some more about the CoBrA movement:
Founded in a Paris café in 1948, the CoBrA movement (an acronym for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam) was a short-lived but explosive collective of artists who revolutionized modern art. They rejected the "civilized" constraints of traditional art, instead drawing inspiration from mythology, folk art, and the uninhibited creativity of children. Their work is characterized by bright colors, violent brushwork (or heavy pastel strokes), and distorted, semi-abstract figures that evoke deep, subconscious myths. This piece serves as a beautiful example of the "CoBrA-esque" style that dominated the Parisian art scene throughout the 1950s and 60s, offering an atmospheric and mysterious window into the post-war psyche.
As stated previously, the painting was found at a local marché aux puces (flea market) in Paris, France. The painting on paper is unsigned so we’re dealing a mystery artist. Based on the aged colors on the reverse the painting was likely created in the 1940s or 1950s.
The unframed painting measures about 15" wide x 11" tall. There is light patina throughout the piece. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only. Free shipping on the unreal 1950s painting.
Set the mood or this will set it for you.
