Night
Faces On Broadway
In 1975, Karel Appel explored the haunting visage of Night Faces On Broadway through a series of etchings. Each print features a singular face, portrayed with bold features and vibrant colour palettes to draw on the ways in which the stage lighting eerily augments the appearance of actor's faces.
Karel Appel Night Faces On Broadway For sale
Night Faces On Broadway Value (5 Years)
Karel Appel’s Night Faces On Broadway series has historically shown more measured results compared with the artist’s wider oeuvre, with auction prices ranging from £0 to £700. Average annual growth has remained modest at -0.43%, with certain works seeing declines in value. Over 6 total auction appearances, average selling prices have held around £225. Peak hammer prices have reached £700 for top-performing works. Factors that enhance value include condition, rarity and signed examples typically command a premium; variation in price is linked to print state, condition and availability of rare-to-market examples. The first work from this series sold at auction on 30/11/2004. This series appeals to collectors seeking accessible entry points into Karel Appel’s print market, with an overall measured performance.
Auction Results
| Artwork | Auction Date | Auction House | Return to Seller | Hammer Price | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Night Faces On Broadway I Karel Appel Signed Print | 27 Sept 2022 | Cowley Abbott | £553 | £650 | £800 |
 Night Faces On Broadway IV Karel Appel Signed Print | 17 May 2015 | Lama | £0 | £0 | £0 |
 Night Faces On Broadway II Karel Appel Signed Print | 30 Nov 2004 | Christie's Amsterdam | £553 | £650 | £900 |
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Meaning & Analysis
Karel Appel’s Night Faces On Broadway series, created in 1975, offers a compelling study of expressive portraiture through the medium of etching. Known for his role in founding the CoBrA movement, Appel’s artistic ethos centred on raw emotion and spontaneous creativity. This series, comprising four etchings, focuses on a singular face rendered with striking boldness and a vivid interplay of colours.
The series is unified by its subject—a face that appears hauntingly vibrant yet enigmatic in its depiction. Each print maintains the same composition but varies in colour palette, ranging from bold, moody hues to vibrant bursts of colour. This variability highlights Appel’s experimental approach to etching, where each iteration captures a different emotional resonance through colour and form.
Appel’s use of etching, a technique that involves incising lines into a metal plate and printing from it, adds depth and texture to the facial features depicted. The bold, expressive strokes and intense colours evoke a sense of theatrical immediacy and raw emotion, characteristic of Appel’s broader artistic philosophy.
The Night Faces On Broadway series exemplifies Appel’s ability to convey profound emotional depth through visual abstraction. By manipulating colour across the series, he invites viewers into a contemplative exploration of human expression.
