Plumeuse 1944

Jean Dubuffet made this lithograph, titled "Plumeuse," in 1944. The stark black ink, printed on paper, emphasizes the rough, almost crude quality of the image. Dubuffet was fascinated by materials that were not traditionally associated with high art, embracing the raw and the everyday. Here, the grainy texture of the lithographic crayon or tusche lends the figure a sense of immediacy. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the stone, building up the image with layers of texture. The title, which translates to "feather plucker," hints at the subject's occupation, while the figure's exaggerated features and distorted proportions challenge conventional notions of beauty and representation. Dubuffet’s focus on process and materiality elevates the ordinary, reminding us that art can be found in the most unexpected places and materials. He blurs the lines between fine art and the everyday.