Jeuxe et congres 1959

Jean Dubuffet made “Jeuxe et congres” with lithography, a process that yields the richest of textures. The beauty here is how the surface almost disintegrates into a mass of marks. Up close, you see that the ground is activated everywhere. This work is a beautiful example of the all-over composition. No hierarchy. Just a field of tones from light to dark. The blacks and grays pool together, like ink spreading across a damp page. I love how Dubuffet avoids a focal point; he encourages your eye to wander. There is a real sense of freedom in that kind of mark-making. The physicality of the print, the way the ink sits on the paper, becomes a tactile experience. Dubuffet's commitment to raw expression reminds me a bit of Cy Twombly, and his rejection of conventional aesthetics. Both artists are amazing at creating complex surfaces from simple gestures.