PIERRE ALECHINSKY | Exécution sommaire

Collection Z, Brussels (acquired directly from the artist in 1966)

The colours in the printed catalogue illustration are fairly accurate. The work was executed on its original canvas and is not relined. In the blue areas of paint, there are tiny cracked areas which have resulted in tiny losses. Most notably, there is a tiny superficial loss in the brown area in the center of the composition. The work is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

With its impetuous texture and irruptive colors, Exécution sommaire is particularly representative of the formal researches Pierre Alechinsky conducted starting from the beginning of his career, and especially after joining the CoBrA movement in 1949. At the center of this gestural and archaic-looking composition, shapes evoking a wild bestiary seem to erupt from the canvas in a similar manner than in the work of Christian Dotremont, leader of the CoBrA group. Here, Alechinsky tried to capture the possibility of sign while following a predefined rhizomic pattern, engaging in an existential quest beyond painting that almost brought him back to a form of cave art. "A painting trying to unite with the cosmos almost from within, a clever cardiogram that reads as easily as personality shows in the movement of a writing hand" as he described it.