Plate VII from the portfolio Vulcanologies 1970

Pierre Alechinsky's "Plate VII" from the Vulcanologies portfolio presents us with a striking image, likely rendered through printmaking. The composition is immediately dominated by what seems to be an erupting volcano, yet its portrayal defies straightforward representation. Notice how the volcano's emissions transition from warm hues at the base to cool blues and purples as they ascend, creating a chromatic dynamism. This is contrasted by the stark, white cone outlined in raw umber, giving the artwork a sense of contained energy about to be released. Alechinsky toys with the viewer's perception by destabilizing fixed meanings. The volcano, a symbol of both destruction and creation, is here rendered with an almost playful lightness, challenging us to reconsider our relationship with natural forces. The splatters and drips, rather than detracting from the image, reinforce the idea of uncontrollable forces and spontaneous expression. This piece then becomes a meditation on the inherent instability and fluidity of meaning, reflecting broader poststructuralist thought.