Plaintiff 1958

Here we have Jean Dubuffet's "Plaintiff", made using collage or printmaking techniques, though the exact method is a little unclear, adding to its intriguing texture. The way the shapes are pieced together makes me think about process, about how Dubuffet was actively constructing this figure, bit by bit. It's not about illusion; it’s about making. And those earthy, gritty colors? They feel so raw, so real. The surface has this rough, almost dirty quality that I find really appealing. Look at the hands, how they're splayed out and kind of awkward. To me, they speak to Dubuffet’s interest in outsider art and children’s drawings. He had this knack for making high art from very humble sources. He also reminds me a little of Guston, stripping back the polished surfaces to get at the funny, awkward truth. It’s all about keeping the conversation going, right?