Questioning Children 1949

Karel Appel made this construction of painted wood, Questioning Children. Look at the way the surfaces are built up. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, an activity that accumulates over time through movement and material engagement. The colours, mostly primaries, feel raw, instinctive. I love how the yellow ground shines through the gaps between the blocks of wood, it almost feels as if it's breathing. Notice the thick globs of paint, the rough edges, the way the forms don't quite line up. This feels like a direct record of Appel's actions, a physical manifestation of his energy and emotion. The little red figure at the bottom left seems to be teetering on the edge of a cliff. It's this kind of playful precariousness that makes the work so compelling. Appel's approach reminds me of Dubuffet, who had a similar interest in the art of children and the 'untrained' creator. This is about tapping into something primal, something authentic, beyond the constraints of formal training. It’s a reminder that art is not about perfection, but about expression.