Vache (Cow) 1954

Curator: Let’s consider Jean Dubuffet’s “Vache,” or “Cow,” created in 1954. It is, at its core, an assemblage that leans heavily on matter-painting techniques. Editor: My first impression? I can practically smell the earthy barn. It’s not just an animal, it's a whole experience, a bit messy, a bit humorous, but undeniably real. Like a cow bursting through a dream. Curator: Indeed, the piece encapsulates Dubuffet's commitment to raw and untamed artistic expression, which aligns to Art Brut's anti-establishment sentiment that critiques formalized art education as an oppressor of individuality and authenticity. We can consider this piece through a post-war lens of questioning social order. Editor: I see it! There’s a primal, almost childlike energy here. The colors are subdued, the texture is rough and tactile—like finger-painting gone delightfully rogue. I’m getting a real sense of liberation, of casting off conventions. Like what would happen if we allowed ourselves to be as unapologetically ourselves as... well, a cow. Curator: Dubuffet engaged with a "low" subject matter elevated here via these heavy impasto layers. There's commentary, for example, in its divergence from classical representations of nature. By embracing materiality, Dubuffet sought to deconstruct academic conventions. This stance has informed contemporary discussions on class and cultural capital in arts. Editor: Absolutely. This isn't your typical bovine beauty gracing manicured pastures. This cow looks like it’s been rolling in the dirt, chewing cud, and living a very real, very earthy existence. It speaks volumes, quietly and loudly all at once. Makes me want to kick off my shoes and join the herd. Curator: To contextualize our modern ideas of beauty and form then, seeing a piece like this helps us reconsider systems of hierarchy present in our visual culture. Editor: Exactly. For me, this artwork feels so profoundly liberating. Curator: I appreciate your articulation of the work, considering it’s rootedness to our shared humanity, or perhaps animality.