Ernest Pignon-Ernest, illustrator and visual artist, is a founding father of Street Art in France. A resident of Ivry, near Paris, where he has his studio, he started his artistic endeavours in the streets in the 1960s. Since then, he has captivated passersby on the walls of major cities, using thought-provoking displays to express his political convictions through subjects that reflect pressing current events. Socially and politically engaged, his images give a voice to the most vulnerable social groups.
Our representation of an open hand and forearm springing upwards from the base of the sheet crystallises the expressive prowess of Pignon-Ernest. In the manner of Pablo Picasso in his iconic Guernica, on our sheet Pignon-Ernest explores the expressive power of the human hand. Drawn with precise although spontaneous ink strokes, our Hand is audacious, fearless, and hopeful. As a vehicle for a plethora of sentiments, our drawing encapsulates Pignon-Ernest’s graphic talent and creative flair, which greatly contributed to his success as a street artist.