Obscure communication 1959

Jean Dubuffet made this print, “Obscure communication”, and the title itself suggests a process of unveiling and concealing through mark-making. The earth tone palette and tactile surface feel immediate. Looking closely, you can almost feel the graininess of the paper and the push and pull of the ink. See the way the light catches those scumbled areas? The texture feels raw, not unlike the stuff of the earth, which makes me think of how Dubuffet was interested in art that felt primal, outside the norms of academic training. There's a sense of accidental beauty here, reminiscent of the early days of photography. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, in that both artists use the barest of means to create these mysterious surfaces. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that communication itself can be found in the quietest of marks.