Les Aiguilles, VIII 

Pierre Alechinsky’s painting “Les Aiguilles, VIII” is made with acrylic on canvas and is part of a series of works by the artist. The word “aiguilles” translates from French to English as “needles,” which could be interpreted as the tools used for embroidery and sewing. Looking at the painting and thinking about Alechinsky’s choice of materials can lead to an interesting interpretation. The work is in acrylics, a medium developed in the middle of the twentieth century, that quickly became embraced by many artists. Its advantages are that it dries fast, and allows the painter to make quick decisions and create works with bold, immediate gestures. Here, we see those attributes in full play: from the thick strokes that frame the image, to the thin lines that depict the tent-like forms floating within. The artist makes use of the properties of the materials to create a modern interpretation, where the artist moves from a traditional approach to a more contemporary, spontaneous, and expressive artistic method.