Spectacle au sol 1958

Jean Dubuffet made this print called Spectacle au sol, or "ground spectacle", using a technique that allows for these mottled textures. This is all about surface, and the way the earth looks when you really look at it. The brown hues, punctuated by flecks of gold, make me think about the actual dirt beneath our feet and the history contained within its layers. Focus on one particular area and you see this micro-universe of different tones and shapes. The colour isn't uniform, but full of chance occurrences, like a happy accident. It reminds me that art, like nature, is full of unplanned moments that can be beautiful if you just let them be. Think of artists like Antoni Tàpies, also interested in texture and the rough beauty of humble materials. Ultimately, Dubuffet encourages us to find wonder in the everyday.