The important American sculptor had been one of the founders and was at that time one of the leading exponents of the Condé Nast publishing company, owner among other things of the magazine “Vogue”.

We had already arranged an appointment that winter and it was not difficult to install a small studio in the Hotel Regina Isabella where they were staying.  

We occupied, for some technical procedures, a part of the large kitchen of the Hotel whose management generously and curiously offered to collaborate with our oddities.

The copper plates entered the oven and came out together with biscuits, cakes and other kinds of food, initially with mistrust on the part of the cooks, then with increasing curiosity and interest.

A series of etchings emerged from that meeting, full of dynamism and an immediacy that we would probably never be able to repeat in the works we did in Rome over the following years.

The way of setting up, and perhaps desecrating, the work of the printer there was certainly seen as a positive challenge by Helen Frankenthaler... who, in those days, was Alexander's guest in Ischia. Helen suggested us a printmaking experience with her in Rome in September, before her return to New York. Perhaps she thought she was involved in a situation similar to the one Alexander experienced.