Plate IV from the portfolio Vulcanologies 1970

Pierre Alechinsky's Plate IV from the portfolio Vulcanologies, presents us with a fiery landscape dominated by a volcanic deity and a serpentine creature. The volcano, often a symbol of raw power and destruction, sits above a dragon-like figure, a motif steeped in cultural significance. Consider the dragon – in Eastern traditions, it embodies wisdom and strength, while in the West, it often represents chaos and temptation. This duality echoes through art history, from ancient Chinese scrolls to medieval European tapestries. The dragon, therefore, is a potent symbol, loaded with cultural memory and subconscious associations. Its presence here, beneath the volcanic deity, hints at the primal energies simmering beneath the surface of our world. The collective psyche, as Jung would argue, recognizes these archetypes. The emotional charge of this image, with its intense colors and mythical creatures, engages us on a deeply rooted level, stirring something ancient within our souls. The cyclical nature of destruction and creation. The dragon will always return, reborn from the ashes, its meaning evolving yet its essence enduring.