The artwork titled “l’Hourloupe” was created by the artist Jean Dubuffet in 1966. This piece is realized with ink on paper and is associated with the Art Brut movement. It is part of the Hourloupe series and can be classified within the abstract genre.
Examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by the dense and intricate network of lines and shapes that sprawl across the canvas. The composition is composed of a myriad of puzzle-like forms that interlock in a continuous, albeit disjointed, visual field. The lines are predominantly black, etching out the contours of the various shapes, which are filled with a limited palette consisting mostly of red, blue, white, and the black of the lines themselves. There are no distinguishable figures or objects; instead, the abstract forms seem to suggest something familiar yet remain elusive, resisting concrete interpretation. The pattern is somewhat cellular in its repetition and variation, creating a rhythm that is at once chaotic and orderly. The result is a captivating visual experience that invites the viewer to navigate through the labyrinthine arrangement of color and form. Each segment, while individual in its shape and coloration, is part of a greater whole, creating a tapestry that is complex and energetic.