Grand Maitre of the Outsider 1947

Jean Dubuffet made this painting, Grand Maitre of the Outsider, using thick paint and dark lines to create a face that seems both ancient and immediate. It’s like he’s digging into something primal. The texture is crucial; you can almost feel the roughness. The ochre and blacks aren’t just colors; they’re earthy, like mud or something unearthed. Look closely at the mouth, that grid of lines. It's like a cage, but also a child's drawing of teeth. I love how contradictory it is. The lines outlining the face aren't precious, they just exist and give form. Dubuffet's work always reminds me of Cy Twombly, that sense of raw, unfiltered expression. Dubuffet wasn't trying to be pretty; he was trying to be real, whatever that means. It's a conversation, this art thing, and Dubuffet is definitely shouting his part.