Vroeg in de morgen 1985

Eugene Brands made this abstract oil painting, called "Vroeg in de morgen," which translates to "Early in the Morning" in Dutch, sometime in the mid-20th century. The work is a study in the social function of art. Brands was a key figure in the Cobra art movement, which emerged in post-war Europe. The work of Cobra artists was often deliberately child-like and spontaneous, which in itself was a reaction against the art establishment. The colours and composition of this image might be read as a rejection of traditional artistic values, and indeed the institutions that upheld them. The lack of formal composition, the playful use of colour, and the childlike freedom of expression speak to this ethos. To better understand this artwork, we might explore manifestos and statements produced by Cobra artists, delving into the socio-political context of post-war Europe to see how artists tried to create a more authentic and accessible form of art.