Abstraction merges with representation in the paintings and prints of Pierre Alechinsky, known for combining colorful painting with black-and-white ink drawing. A founding member of CoBrA, a group that emphasized material and its spontaneous application, Alechinsky cultivated a lively aesthetic particularly evident in later acrylics and works on paper. Upon visiting Japan, he adopted the Eastern tradition of pouring ink onto the surface of paper spread out on the floor, rendering his subjects—erupting volcanoes, comically deformed creatures, waterfalls, dynamic skies—with a fluidity influenced by Japanese calligraphy. Personal legal and financial documents and often served as the base material for his works.