Untitled from the portfolio With the Grain of the Wood (Au fil du bois) 1973

This untitled woodcut from the portfolio "With the Grain of the Wood" by Pierre Alechinsky presents a distorted, almost grotesque face, challenging conventional portraiture. The image, with its multiple eyes and fragmented features, speaks to the anxieties and uncertainties prevalent in the post-World War II era. Made in France, a nation grappling with its identity after occupation, the work suggests a society struggling to see clearly, to reconcile differing perspectives. The stark contrast of black and white, typical of woodcut, amplifies the sense of unease and division. Alechinsky, associated with the CoBrA group, often critiqued institutional norms through abstract expression. To fully appreciate this piece, one might delve into the history of printmaking as a medium for social commentary, or explore the cultural landscape of post-war Europe through period literature and political documents. Art history thrives on contextual understanding, revealing how images reflect and shape the societies that produce them.