Sans titre 1959

Gaston Chaissac's "Sans titre" is a really lovely painting, the date of which is unknown, that seems to embrace the process of artmaking. The flat colors and heavy outlines are really striking. Looking closely at the painting's surface, the colors are laid down with what looks like real intention, but also a delightful simplicity. The figures are outlined in black, giving them a graphic quality, like cutouts or cartoons. The way the colors are contained within those bold outlines gives the painting a sense of structure, but there’s also a real looseness. Those little circles within the blue patch are really curious. Are they buttons? Are they arbitrary additions? I just don’t know! Chaissac’s work reminds me a bit of Dubuffet or maybe even some of Miró’s playful forms. But really, he’s got his own thing going on. His paintings aren’t trying to be slick or perfect; they’re more interested in being honest and direct, embracing the joy of color and form.