Chance and Its Mother (Le hasard et sa mère) from the portfolio Pencil on Shell 1971

Pierre Alechinsky’s print titled 'Chance and Its Mother' seems to relish the happy accidents of artmaking, as though the image was coaxed into existence rather than forced. The swirling lines that define the figures suggest a process led by intuition and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. See how the green and brown inks create a sense of depth and shadow, allowing the forms to emerge from the background, like memories surfacing from the subconscious. Focus on that orange figure at the bottom; it is almost cartoonish in its simplicity, yet it holds its own against the more complex forms above. The piece reminds me of the work of Joan Miró, who similarly embraced chance and spontaneity in his art. Both artists seem to suggest that art is an ongoing conversation, a playful exchange of ideas across time. And maybe that art embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to the table.