The artwork titled “Moonrise in ghosts” by Jean Dubuffet, created in 1951, belongs to the Tachisme movement, an abstract style prevalent in European painting in the 1940s and 1950s. As part of the “Texturologies” series, this piece reflects the artist’s interest in creating texture and reinventing the surface of the painting. This abstract genre manifests Dubuffet’s fascination with materiality and organic forms.
Upon observing the artwork, one is immediately struck by its richly textured surface, which seems to evoke a sense of depth and complexity. The palette appears subdued, primarily utilizing earthy tones that suggest a connection to the natural world. The forms within the artwork are ambiguous, reminiscent of fossils or archaeological remnants embedded in sediment. The dynamic interplay between light and shadow across the undulating surface suggests movement, as if the artwork were alive with ghostly presences indicated by its title. The tactile quality of the painting encourages viewers to imagine the sensation of touching the intricate relief, further blurring the line between the visual and the palpable.