The powerful work “Snake in wonderland” by Ernst Vijlbrief (1938-2010).
The expressive brushstrokes are typical for the style of Vijlbrief, connecting him to CoBrA and the expressive action paintings of Karel Appel. This small work is a great example of the early style of Vijlbrief and a highly collectible piece. Signed in top corner and verso signed, dated and titled.

Ernst Vijlbrief, born November 25th, 1934, in Utrecht studied at the Institute for Applied Arts Education in Amsterdam and at the Academia di Porta Romana in Florence (1956-1959). In the late fifties, after moving to Amsterdam in 1958, he painted in an expressive style, similar to CoBrA. In 1961 he took part in the large exhibition “Jongere Nederlandse schilders, beeldhouwers en architekten: Liga Nieuw Beelden” in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Next to his work as an artist, Vijlbrief was an engaged board member of several artist associations, like the Beroepsvereniging van Beeldende Kunstenaars (Professional Association of Visual Artists). In 1973 he cofounded Bond van Beeldende Kunstarbeiders (BBKA) in Utrecht, with artist Bob Bonies. His work is held in collections of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Cobramuseum in Amstelveen, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and The Ferens Art Gallery UK. Vijlbrief died at the age of 76 in 2010.