Armoured Hat (Chapeau fort) 1976

Here we see Pierre Alechinsky's "Armoured Hat", a print brimming with symbols that speak to our primal urges and fears. In the central image, an elaborate head covering is adorned with what appear to be eyes, suggesting a sense of perpetual watchfulness, or perhaps even paranoia. Note the border: a procession of eyes, spirals, and abstract forms. These recall ancient motifs, such as the "apotropaic eye" found in various cultures, meant to ward off evil. Yet, here, the eyes seem to have multiplied, creating an unsettling feeling of being constantly observed. The spiral is another ancient symbol, representing the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Could Alechinsky be hinting at the way anxieties and obsessions return to haunt us? This piece evokes a deep psychological tension—a sense of being trapped within one's own mind, surrounded by ever-watchful symbols of our subconscious fears. Like the ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, our anxieties are perpetually reborn. This "Armoured Hat" is not just a protective shell, but a symbol of the psychological armor we carry, burdened by the weight of our own history and fears.