View of Paris, small business (1944) by Jean Dubuffet

View of Paris, small business - Jean Dubuffet - 1944

Artwork Information

TitleView of Paris, small business
ArtistJean Dubuffet
Date1944
Art MovementArt Brut

About View of Paris, small business

The artwork titled “View of Paris, small business” was created by artist Jean Dubuffet in 1944. This piece is a representation of the Art Brut movement, which embraces a raw and primitive approach to creativity, often outside the established art scene. Its genre is that of a cityscape, depicting an urban scene centered around the commerce and daily life within a city.

Upon examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by Dubuffet’s distinctive style. The piece features a vibrant, somewhat childlike depiction of a multistory urban environment. The colors are bold and appear to be applied in a thick, almost textured manner, enhancing the sense of spontaneity and rawness characteristic of Art Brut. Shapes are simplified, and the perspective is naive, creating a flattened, almost two-dimensional effect.

Storefronts are visible, outlined in heavy black strokes that compartmentalize the composition into a patchwork of shops and windows. Each segment seems to tell a story, possibly reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of Parisian life. We can infer that the artist’s intention was not to capture a realistic portrayal of Paris, but rather to evoke its essence through a personal and unconventional visual language.

The signage, though part of a simplified palette and design, gives hints to the types of businesses and the era the artwork represents. The absence of human figures in the artwork shifts the focus to the architectural elements and the imagined life within these structures, inviting the viewer to ponder the unseen human activity that defines a bustling cityscape. This approach aligns with Dubuffet’s goal of breaking away from traditional aesthetics to create something more instinctive and genuine.

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