Pavan One Thousand Regrets (Pavane mille regrets) from the portfolio Pencil on Shell 1971

Pierre Alechinsky made Pavan One Thousand Regrets using lithography. This print contains a lot of visual information, but what does it all mean? Alechinsky was associated with the Cobra art movement. The artists in this movement broke from tradition and explored new ways of expressing themselves. He was Belgian but lived in France during the postwar period. The Cobra artists were interested in automatism, inspired by the Surrealists. The Surrealists explored the unconscious through their art, hoping to liberate art from the constraints of reason. Automatism involves loosening conscious control and allowing the hand to move freely, resulting in spontaneous marks and shapes. This approach to art making was a rejection of formal academic training that had been the foundation of artistic practice for centuries. To better understand the Cobra movement and the artistic and political ideas behind it, look to publications from the period and records of exhibitions and gatherings. These sources will help you understand how the artists viewed themselves and their role in society.