Pierre Alechinsky - Swirling Red Border

1978

This powerful and richly colored lithograph by Pierre Alechinsky is a vibrant expression of his signature style—bold, gestural, and intuitively composed. Created in 1978, this work showcases Alechinsky's mastery in combining expressive abstraction with narrative figuration.
Hand-signed by the artist in pencil lower right
The work is hand-numbered in pencil lower left
Sheet size: approx. 47 × 64 cm

The intense, swirling red border and bold contrasts of black, blue, and yellow create an energetic visual field that draws the viewer into a poetic, almost dreamlike narrative.

Printed on Arches France paper, known for its superior quality and watermark. 

The composition is dominated by abstracted organic forms that hint at hybrid creatures or surreal landscapes. The central image is surrounded by a dense red border composed of chaotic, scribble-like linework—a visual device Alechinsky often used to enclose or “frame” the emotional energy of his central motif.

Pierre Alechinsky (b. 1927) is a celebrated Belgian painter and printmaker, known for his dynamic and gestural style that merges Eastern calligraphy with Western abstraction. A leading figure in the Cobra group, Alechinsky’s works are housed in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), and Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). 

His prolific career spans painting, printmaking, and writing, making him one of the most influential European artists of the post-war era.