In the Same Basket (Dans le même panier) from the portfolio Pencil on Shell 1971

Pierre Alechinsky made “In the Same Basket” as part of the “Pencil on Shell” portfolio, and the marks are a kind of frenzy. It’s like he’s not just representing something, but having a conversation with the materials. There's a real tactile quality, with that scratchy crayon line. Look at the way he's built up the layers, the greens and browns wrestling for space. The forms feel both contained and bursting to be free. The circles, like little faces or seeds, huddle together, but each one has its own distinct character. And there’s this tension between control and letting go. It reminds me of someone like Dubuffet, who also found beauty in the raw and untamed. Ultimately, art is about embracing the messy, contradictory nature of being human. There are no easy answers, just endless possibilities.