Corneille

Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo, known as Corneille, was a Dutch artist born in Liège, Belgium, in 1922. He co-founded the avant-garde COBRA movement in 1948, alongside artists such as Karel Appel and Constant. This group advocated a spontaneous and experimental approach to art, drawing inspiration from folk art, children’s drawings, and primitive art. Corneille’s artistic development took him from an initial abstract phase to a more figurative style characterized by bright colors and simplified forms. His work frequently features birds, cats, and female figures, often depicted in landscapes or dreamlike settings. After COBRA disbanded in 1951, Corneille continued to explore these themes, traveling extensively and incorporating influences from various cultures into his art. He died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, in 2010.