Untitled from The Test of the Title (Le Test du titre) 1966

This lithograph by Pierre Alechinsky presents a troupe of figures, evoking the characters of a symbolic drama. The jester-like figures, with their elaborate headgear and expressive gestures, remind us of the Commedia dell'Arte. These characters, archetypes of human folly and wit, have their roots in ancient theatrical traditions. Note the swirling, almost organic forms that crown their heads, and their gestures, both defiant and playful. These evoke a sense of carnival, where social hierarchies are temporarily inverted, and the irrational takes center stage. Consider how, from antiquity through the Renaissance and into modern times, the fool or jester has served as a mirror to society, reflecting our anxieties and desires through satire and parody. These figures, like those found in tarot cards or medieval tapestries, tap into a collective unconscious. They appear as the embodiment of chaos and creativity, and invite us to question the boundaries of reason and madness. It is as though Alechinsky has captured a fleeting moment from a timeless spectacle.