Rinçage, Graissage (Carwash, Oilchange) 1962

Jean Dubuffet made this oil on canvas, Rinçage, Graissage, sometime during his lifetime, and it's a wild ride of color and gesture. The crude, almost childlike figures and vehicles are rendered with a kind of joyful abandon that feels incredibly freeing. It reminds me that artmaking is as much about the process as it is about the final image. Look at the texture of the paint; it's thick, almost sculptural in places, with these raw, immediate marks that seem to capture the energy of the moment. The color palette, too, is fascinating – a mix of earthy tones and vibrant hues that clash and harmonize in unexpected ways. See that blue patch at the top? It's almost like a thought bubble, floating above the scene, adding a layer of depth and ambiguity. Dubuffet was a true original, and this piece is a great example of his unique vision. You might compare his work to that of the COBRA group, especially Asger Jorn, with its raw energy and rejection of academic conventions. It’s like Dubuffet is reminding us that art doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful.