Entre Plume et Pinceau

Controversy as to which artist influenced the other still remains. Dubuffet has been accused of appropriating the art brut of Chaissac, who in turn has been suspected of being too close to the art establishment to remain a truly natural artist. dubuffet seemed preoccupied with the source of creativity and coined the term art brut to define the work of self-taught artists who were free from the constraints of traditional schools. Chaissac painted on anything that didn’t move (stones, bones, pots, closet doors, construction paper) and wrote, “I paint for that instant that will make abstract art specialists come to a boil”.

For the visitor, it is a joy to be privy to a creative dialogue between two artists. Ironically, Chaissac and Dubuffet didn’t get along when they eventually spent time together. I wonder what they’d think of sharing the same exhibition space today.

Tip: While the works of art transcend language, the correspondence is only in French. However, a timeline that is also presented in English provides a decent overview.

Until September 28. Musée de la Poste. 34 boulevard de Vaugirard, Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse. Open daily 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays. Price €6.50, concessions €5. Tel +33 1 42 79 24 24

Originally published in the August-September 2013 issue of France Today