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

Curator: This striking woodcut print, from the portfolio With the Grain of the Wood (Au fil du bois), is an untitled piece by Pierre Alechinsky, created in 1973. Editor: The stark contrast of black and white immediately grabs you. It’s somewhat unsettling, like a children's drawing rendered in a way that hints at something darker. Curator: Indeed. The abstract and caricature-like elements, common in Alechinsky’s work, invite a formal analysis. Notice the horizontal lines that dominate the background; how they play with the more defined shapes in the foreground. Editor: Right, the grain of the wood itself contributes to that unease. The labor involved in carving this, the physical act of removing material, feels almost violent. And what about that stark vessel at the bottom? Almost looks like a volcano about to erupt. Curator: Perhaps it’s meant to destabilize the traditional still life. The abstracted flora seem almost alien in their geometry and symbolism. Look closely and one might notice skeletal, almost comical, facial figures amid more abstract and floral shapes. Editor: Interesting point, the texture feels raw, unrefined. One has to think of the historical context. Woodcut often served as a populist medium – inexpensive, accessible, linked to political cartoons and broadsides. Is Alechinsky engaging with that history here? Curator: That is certainly plausible. The seeming simplicity, yet deliberate fracturing of form can also be understood as a revolt against conventional artistic expressions, or at least that which was dominant during this period. It embraces ambiguity and a fluidity in representation, that moves against rigid interpretations. Editor: The title, if taken literally, brings another level of understanding. A close look reveals areas that celebrate the natural grain and its impact. Curator: Precisely, the wood itself isn’t just a means to an end; it becomes an integral part of the aesthetic statement, interacting with and accentuating his distinct style. Editor: It leaves one pondering the labor inherent in artmaking, and challenges our very assumptions regarding conventional presentation. I hadn't anticipated it'd be so resonant! Curator: Nor did I. It is quite provocative when closely considered. It really rewards multiple viewings.