Arab in a burnous
(Arabe au burnous)
1948
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
91.8 × 73.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of the National Gallery Women's Association, Governor, 1981
© Jean Dubuffet/ADAGP, Paris. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Dubuffet rejected traditional methods and sources of painting and advocated for the study of marginal art forms, which he termed art brut. Art brut embraced the art of children, amateurs and the mentally unstable, as well as found objects and the rough scribblings of graffiti. Arab in a burnous is one of twelve resolved paintings that Dubuffet made in 1948–49 which reflected his recent travels in Algeria. The engaging amalgam of childlike forms and graffiti-inspired draughtsmanship seen in this painting reflects Dubuffet’s fascination with art brut, while maintaining the sophistication of a haunting evocation of a windswept Saharan vision.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in purple paint u.l.: J. Dubuffet 48
Accession Number
EA4-1981
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Dame Carol Colburn-Grigor CBE through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Abstract Art Human Figures
Subjects (specific)
Arabian (culture) brown (colour) burnouses cloaks men (male humans) texture (artistic concept)
Frame
When Dubuffet’s Arab in a burnous was acquired in 1981 it came housed in a deep red and gold scotia frame with a wide flat linen slip.
When the painting was removed from this frame for examination in 1988, it was noted as having a thin, black, painted strip of wood pinned to all sides.
This was taken to be the original presentation of the painting and the broad, gilded frame put aside.
The timber strips have a quarter round at the front and back edge, are 5 mm deeper than the edge of the painting and are pinned to the sides so that the top edge of the frame is flush with the surface of the work. The corners are mitred and the surface is black paint.
It is possible these pieces of timber are an edge strip moulding brought across to the framing of the work.
The painting has been on display in the black, strip frame since 1988.
Frame Details
Framemaker
Unknown - 20th century
Date
c.1948
Materials
timber with rounded edges, black paint
Dimensions
1” x ¼” strip of timber added to all sides.