Spy (Espionne) 1970

Pierre Alechinsky created ‘Spy (Espionne)’ using etching and aquatint in 1980. Born in Belgium to a Russian Jewish father, Alechinsky’s artistic practice developed in the wake of World War II. He became associated with the art informel movement, focusing on abstract, gestural, and experimental approaches to art making. His work defies easy categorization, but remains rooted in themes of identity, communication, and the human condition. ‘Spy (Espionne)’ presents us with an enigmatic figure. Is it an octopus, a mythical creature, or a distorted reflection of ourselves? The gray frame is full of abstracted forms and creates a sense of looking through a veil. In the post-war era, marked by paranoia and surveillance, the idea of spying takes on complex dimensions, especially for an artist with a heritage marked by displacement. The image evokes a sense of unease, prompting us to consider our own roles as observers, and the observed.