Martineau - Composition of faces

Anton Martineau (1926-2017) was a Dutch painter and poet known for his expressive and often raw style. He is associated with the CoBrA movement, although he was never an official member. His work is characterized by a spontaneous, emotional way of painting, often using bright colors and wild, energetic brushstrokes.

A striking aspect of Martineau's work is his composition of faces. In many of his paintings we see faces that are distorted and fragmentary, as if he is trying to capture the inner emotions and complexities of human beings. These faces are rarely realistic, but rather abstract or symbolic. Martineau drew inspiration from the human condition and existential themes, such as fear, desire and joy. His compositions of faces sometimes appear simultaneously joyful and terrifying, reflecting a sense of intensity and duality in life.

The way he shapes faces often feels almost poetic, which is consistent with his background as a poet. With him, the face becomes a kind of mask that represents not only a person's physical appearance, but especially the inner world. The eyes and mouths in his works are often exaggeratedly large or sharply delineated, emphasizing the emotional charge. As a result, the figures in his paintings come alive in a way that invites introspection and emotional involvement from the viewer.

His work, in which he seeks a synthesis between image and poetry, remains powerful and evocative, and his faces often capture the imagination more than realistic portraits would.