Linolog II 1972

Pierre Alechinsky created this print, Linolog II, with lithography, a process that’s all about surfaces and how they meet. Look at how the black ink makes calligraphic gestures all around the edge. It’s like handwriting, but I can't read it! The green in the center feels different, more solid, like a stencil maybe? The green lines on the left side remind me of prison bars, or are they the slats of a confessional? Then on the right, a face with text where the skin should be and extra eyes, so strange. It reminds me of the work of Francis Picabia, who also mixed different styles and images together in one frame. Ultimately, though, this piece feels more playful than anxious, it seems to be less about "meaning" and more about opening up a space for seeing what happens, about making a mark and seeing what comes next.