The artwork titled “Barbe anger” was created by the artist Jean Dubuffet in 1959. It is a figurative piece that belongs to the Art Brut movement, a term coined by Dubuffet himself, referring to ‘raw’ or ‘unrefined’ art produced outside the traditional aesthetics of the art world.
In examining the artwork, one is immediately confronted with a textural richness and a sense of the unorthodox. The figure in the artwork is abstract, yet possesses clear human characteristics. The face consists of primitive shapes and lines suggesting eyes, a nose, and a mouth, indicating a human visage in a highly stylized manner. The use of contrasting colors and the layering of materials adds depth and complexity to the piece.
The application of paint is thick and dynamic, with heavy, impasto strokes that evoke a sense of raw emotion and power, a hallmark of Dubuffet’s style and his commitment to capturing the intensity and authenticity of human expression. The background is relatively muted, which accentuates the bold textures and the striking form of the figure, further emphasizing the emotional intensity that is inherent to the subject of “Barbe anger.”
The artwork is an embodiment of the Art Brut philosophy, where conventional standards of beauty and technique are eschewed in favor of a more direct and visceral means of expression. This philosophy, and Dubuffet’s application of it, seeks to value the authenticity of personal vision above the polished finish of academic training. The result is a powerful piece that engages the viewer in a raw and compelling dialogue with the artist’s perception of human emotion.