Confiture matière - lumière (Texturologie LIII) [Preserves of Matter and Light (Texturology LIII)] 1958

This is Jean Dubuffet’s "Confiture matière - lumière (Texturologie LIII)," or "Preserves of Matter and Light," a painting which is all about texture and material. Just imagine Dubuffet in his studio, layering up these earthy tones, maybe with a palette knife, building this gritty surface bit by bit. I can almost feel the thickness of the paint, like a sandy paste, with these tiny dark specks scattered across, like seeds. Maybe he was thinking about landscapes, or just the feel of the earth, you know? It reminds me a bit of Antoni Tàpies, who also played with texture in his paintings. What’s great about this is how it embraces the raw physicality of painting, celebrating the mess and the unpredictability of the medium. Each dab and stroke feels like a small discovery, a conversation between the artist and the material. Ultimately, artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other, challenging, and inspiring. Dubuffet shows us that painting isn't just about what you see but what you feel and how it makes you think.