Living Flame 1954

This is Alfred Manessier’s “Living Flame”, a print that ignites something in me with its abstract, almost totemic form. It's not just a picture, it's an event, a happening made visible through layers and gestures. I love how the red bleeds out from the central form, creating a halo of warmth. And then there's that vertical stack of shapes in the center, like some funky, tribal sculpture. It’s built up through these crisp-edged shapes in inky black, teal, and a bit of sunset orange. Each color feels like a note in a melody, and the overall effect is both bold and kind of playful. It’s tempting to try and name the thing, pin it down. But maybe it’s better to let it keep shifting, like language, like life. I see connections to Matisse here, and to the way he used color to create a feeling of space and light, though with a slightly different sensibility. Art's just one big conversation, isn't it?