Untitled from The Test of the Title (Le Test du titre) 1966

Curator: Here we have an untitled work from Pierre Alechinsky’s 1966 series, "The Test of the Title." It's a mixed-media drawing, predominantly ink, with an interesting use of splattering techniques. What are your first thoughts? Editor: It feels spontaneous, almost frantic. The dark lines and sporadic splashes evoke a sense of playful chaos, a glimpse into the artist's subconscious perhaps. Curator: Alechinsky was associated with Art Informel, which really emphasized process and the artist’s gesture. Notice the raw quality of the lines; they suggest a quick, almost automatic way of working. Also, look at the border – it looks deliberately ragged. It emphasizes that this is, materially, an exploration. Editor: The imagery is fascinating – a blend of biomorphic shapes and distorted figures. Are those birds, or perhaps whimsical spirits? I'm intrigued by the way these forms seem to dance and interact within the confines of that border. Curator: He’s really pushing at the conventions of the medium, isn't he? Think of it – he's taking ink, typically a medium for controlled lines and detail, and forcing it into something so raw, so immediate. This almost rejects the slick production we often associate with high art. He highlights the labor involved. Editor: Absolutely, and these figures seem pulled from some ancient bestiary or a long-forgotten folk tale. Those birdlike creatures evoke freedom and flight. There is even what looks like a ritual scene on the right, all crammed into a single moment. This compression suggests urgency. Curator: Urgency, or maybe an openness to chance. Alechinsky would have allowed the ink to dictate some of the form, embracing accident. What are the ways of thinking involved? And, crucially, how can such techniques be adopted? The material really comes first. Editor: Yes, but what a vocabulary he's building through these figures and motifs. He is creating a dreamlike realm packed with emotional resonance and cultural references – hidden yet discernible to the viewer. The eye never rests; you keep finding new connections and contrasts within the chaos. Curator: For me, it's about demystifying art production. We see the artist experimenting, playing with the properties of ink and challenging what constitutes a ‘finished’ work. Editor: I agree. For me, this artwork speaks to the enduring power of visual symbols and the narratives they carry through time. The piece uses these abstracted figures as archetypes of feeling and ideas. Curator: I suppose we both agree it makes you look! Editor: Indeed! Thank you for bringing such detail to our understanding.