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Karel Appel made this untitled painting with oil on canvas some time in the mid-20th century. Appel was a Dutch painter and sculptor, and one of the founders of the avant-garde movement Cobra in 1948. Cobra was a European post-war art movement, active from 1948 to 1951. The name Cobra was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home cities: Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The members were heavily inspired by child art, and primitive folk art. They opposed all forms of academicism and especially rejected the then dominant currents of abstract art and surrealism. Cobra wanted art to be experimental and spontaneous. It was a moment of cultural optimism when artists believed they could challenge academic institutions. Appel's work reflects this with its bold colors and abstracted, almost childlike figures. To understand Appel's place in art history better, scholars often turn to manifestos and exhibition catalogues. These provide insights into Cobra's aims, revealing art as a product of specific social and institutional contexts.