COBRA (avant-garde movement) facts for kids

COBRA (or CoBrA) was an exciting art movement in Europe that lasted from 1949 to 1951. The name was created in 1948 by Christian Dotremont. It comes from the first letters of the cities where the main artists lived: Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

History of COBRA Art

COBRA was started by a group of artists on November 8, 1948, in Paris. These artists were Karel Appel, Constant, Corneille, Christian Dotremont, Asger Jorn, and Joseph Noiret. They signed a statement called "La Cause Était Entendue" (which means The Case Was Settled). This statement showed their belief in complete freedom with colors and shapes in art. They also didn't like surrealism, another art style.

How COBRA Artists Worked

The artists in COBRA loved to work in a very free and experimental way. They found inspiration in many places. They looked at drawings made by children, which are often very spontaneous. They also studied art from ancient or "primitive" cultures. Famous artists like Paul Klee and Joan Miró also influenced their unique style.

The Groups That Formed COBRA

The COBRA group came together from three smaller art groups. These were the Reflex group from the Netherlands, the Høst group from Denmark, and the Revolutionary Surrealist Group from Belgium. Even though COBRA only lasted a few years, they achieved a lot. They published a magazine called Cobra. They also created a series of artworks together called Peintures-Mot.

COBRA Exhibitions

COBRA held two big art shows. The first one was at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in November 1949. The second exhibition took place at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Liège in 1951. These shows helped people see their new and exciting art.

The End of the Movement

In November 1949, the group officially changed its name to 'Internationale des Artistes Expérimentaux'. This was because artists from all over Europe and even the USA joined them. However, most people still remember them as COBRA. The movement officially ended in 1951. But many of the artists stayed friends and kept working together, especially Christian Dotremont.

COBRA's Art Style

The main style of COBRA art was semi-abstract paintings. This means the paintings showed things that were partly real but also very changed. They used bright colors and strong, energetic brushstrokes. They often painted human figures that looked stretched or changed. This style was inspired by folk art and art from early cultures. COBRA was an important step in the development of Tachisme and European abstract expressionism. These are art styles where artists express feelings and ideas through colors and shapes, rather than realistic pictures.

Artists in COBRA

Many artists were part of the COBRA movement, including:

See also

In Spanish: CoBrA para niños