Impermanence 1959

Jean Dubuffet made this textured print, titled 'Impermanence', using lithography, a process of layering ink on stone. The color palette is wonderfully subdued. We’re talking grays, browns, and ochres, all blended together to create this gnarly surface. Looking closely, you can almost feel the grittiness under your fingertips. There’s this constant push and pull, a dialogue between dark and light, rough and smooth. It reminds me of the way things decay and transform over time. Notice the mottled effect, like layers of sediment building up on a rock face. It's not just about what you see, but what you sense, what you imagine. Dubuffet’s work reminds me of Cy Twombly, both were masters of ambiguity. They invite us to wander through the layers of paint, to lose ourselves in the marks. 'Impermanence’ doesn’t give you any answers. It just presents a question, a feeling, a moment.