Passionate Lovers VIII 1974

Corneille painted "Passionate Lovers VIII" using oil on canvas at an unknown date. Born in Belgium to Dutch parents, Corneille, as he was known, was a founding member of the CoBrA art movement. Arising out of a sense of disillusionment after the Second World War, CoBrA artists rejected the established art institutions and their emphasis on geometric abstraction in favor of a more expressive, figurative style. In "Passionate Lovers VIII", we see a couple embracing. The simplified forms, bold colors, and flattened perspective are hallmarks of Corneille's engagement with CoBrA's aesthetics, drawing inspiration from folk art and children’s drawings. Through such methods, Corneille sought to challenge the established norms of the art world and create a more accessible visual language. To fully appreciate Corneille's work, one might explore manifestos and publications related to the CoBrA movement, examining the social and political context that fueled its development.