Plate II from the portfolio Papiers Traités 

Plate II from the portfolio Papiers Traités is a print by Pierre Alechinsky, whose long career traverses the key art movements of the 20th century. Drawn with gestural marks, Plate II, encapsulates the influence of both Henri Matisse and the CoBrA group, known for their expressionistic and spontaneous techniques. A central image rendered in black floats above a pale yellow document, perhaps alluding to the bureaucratic processes that Alechinsky witnessed during the Nazi occupation of his native Belgium. The layered imagery and the interplay between the foreground and background might be the artist's way of revealing the hidden stories beneath the surface of everyday life, making the invisible visible. Alechinsky once said of his work, "I like to give the impression of a world that is on the move." The vibrant green border teems with life, framing the central image. The print's overall effect captures a sense of dynamic transformation, which creates an emotional resonance, inviting us to consider how our own histories shape our present experiences.