PIERRE ALECHINSKY (né en 1927) Lot n° 54

Profil haut, 1981-1984 Central ink on vellum mounted on canvas, signed lower right, acrylic border on China paper mounted on wood, countersigned, dated, titled on the reverse of the central part and the border, numbered 17 on the back of the central part 115 x 166 cm 45 9/32 x 65 23/64 in. From the 1980s, Profil haut marks an evolution in Alechinsky's work. A true trademark, the artist reappropriated the concept of "marginal remarks"; small sketches left by an artist on the periphery of a print before the final print. If he initially develops a system of center and periphery, where the main part in color and the borders in black and white respond and complement each other, he then gives more and more importance to these "marginal remarks" until completely reversing the roles. This is the case for Profil haut, whose center is no longer colored but which is "marginalized" to make room for a black and white narrative. Since the 1960s, Pierre Alechinsky has enjoyed international recognition. Numerous exhibitions are devoted to him from New York to Tokyo and prestigious prizes are awarded to him including the recent Praemium Imperiale of Tokyo in 2018 crowning his prolific work.