Christian Dotremont en Pierre Alechinsky - Les Transformes - 1972

'Les Transformes' is regarded within COBRA as a curious pearl. In April 1950 Belgian artist, writer and poet Christian Dotremont (1922-1979) and the Algerian-born but Paris-based and working artist Jean-Michel Atlan (1913-1960) came together in Brussels at the studio of Pierre Alechinsky (1927). There Dotremont and Atlan—each in their own distinctive way—created 'Les Transformes'. Christian Dotremont painted the letters among the abstract visual components of Atlan onto gray paper (which was available). In three colors, Atlan drew inspiration from the shapes of the painted letters. This collaboration is characteristic of the COBRA artists. The result remained hidden for over 22 years. In December 1972 a splendid facsimile of this exceptional artwork was created and published by Yves Rivières in a numbered edition of 600 copies. The offered copy is number 599. In a beautiful red case lives a 12-page leporello, whose beginning and end are connected, so that the artwork can form a circle. Separately there is a four-page supplement with an introduction by Pierre Alechinsky, who witnessed the creation of this artwork. For COBRA enthusiasts in particular, this is a very special document. It is well packaged and sent by insured mail. Unfortunately this special document cannot be shipped to the United States due to U.S. policy on sending this type of postal item.