The name of Eugène Brands immediately conjures up the CoBrA movement. Whereas Brands was indeed one of the founders of the movement with the organisation of the landmark 1949 CoBrA exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, he split from the movement immediately afterwards. His opinions on painting were refreshing, unique and particular. Throughout his career, Brands remained true to the expression of primitive art and music. His young daughter's drawings during the 1950s unavoidably reconnected him with CoBrA.
During the 1960's Brands chose the road to Lyrical Abstraction, which he followed until his passing in 2002. His fascination for the cosmos and the Greek principle of 'pantha rhei' - everything flows- were his inspiration. Brands considered himself as a mere medium. Brands was by all means a soloist of format.
During January 2018 - May 2018 the Cobra Museum hosted 'Van Huiskamer tot Heelal', a major resptrospective of works by Brands.