The artwork entitled “Disappointment,” created by Janet Sobel around the year 1943, is a representative piece of the Art Brut movement and falls under the genre of symbolic painting.
In this evocative painting, vibrant and chaotic imagery is melded together to form a complex and emotive scene. Central to the composition is a prominent, elongated face with a melancholic expression, seemingly weeping, which likely symbolizes the theme of disappointment. Surrounding this face are myriad elements including abstract patterns, colorful flowers, and fragmented human figures, creating an overall tapestry of vivid, raw emotion. The background contains simplistic trees and a serene horizon, providing a contrasting calmness to the otherwise intense foreground. The dense use of colors, intricate details, and expressive contours are characteristic of Sobel’s unique artistic style, evoking deep introspection and emotional resonance.