The artwork titled “Howard and The Book of Life” was created by Howard Finster in 1988. This piece belongs to the Art Brut movement and is classified under the genre of portrait.
The artwork features a figure standing upright, adorned in a striking red suit with black detailing and blue highlights at the cuffs and pockets, presenting a formal and vivid appearance. The figure, seemingly male, has a prominent expression with a stylized representation typical of Art Brut, marked by its raw, unrefined shapes and vibrant colors. Held aloft in the figure’s outstretched hand is a book inscribed with text, adding an element of narrative to the piece. The book held by the figure reads “I-PREACH THE BIBLE THE Book OF LIFE” indicating a perhaps religious or spiritual connotation. The base of the artwork is inscribed with text, further detailing its association with religious or evangelical themes. The entire piece exudes an aura of earnest simplicity and directness, hallmark traits of the Art Brut movement.
