Circletude (Cerclitude) from the portfolio Pencil on Shell 1971

Pierre Alechinsky created "Circletude" as part of the "Pencil on Shell" portfolio, using crayon. The artwork is a vibrant array of forms contained by a dashed border of blue. The composition, while seemingly chaotic, reveals a structured arrangement of shapes and colors. Red and blue patches anchor the composition, with black calligraphic lines weaving around them to create dynamic tension. The application of color and line gives the work a tactile quality. Alechinsky’s approach to art reflects a deep engagement with the ideas of the CoBrA group. The use of spontaneous gestures and rejection of formal constraints challenges traditional artistic values. The piece destabilizes fixed meanings through its ambiguity and invites multiple interpretations, from organic growth to cosmic events. The fluid lines and balanced color scheme invite us to consider how Alechinsky uses form to question and expand the boundaries of representation and perception.