Corneille

Corneille, born Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo on July 3, 1922 in Liège, Belgium, was a Dutch painter and graphic artist with a worldwide reputation. Although he was born in Belgium, he grew up in the Netherlands. His artistic career began at the Rijksacademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam.

Corneille co-founded the experimental Cobra movement in 1948, together with artists such as Karel Appel and Constant. He played a central role within Cobra with his colourful and spontaneous style, which often featured animals, women and imaginative landscapes. His work was strongly influenced by children's drawings, folk art and African art. He played a lasting, innovative role in the art world.

After the dissolution of Cobra in 1951, he developed a recognizable style in which color, form and fantasy were central. Corneille lived in Paris for a long time and exhibited worldwide. His art remained energetic and innovative until old age. He died on September 5, 2010 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, but his work lives on in museums and private collections around the world.