Art brut

Personally, I believe very much in values of savagery.

I mean: instinct, passion, mood, violence, madness.

-- Jean Dubuffet

Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) was deeply impressed by the 1924 book, Artistry of the Mentally Ill written by Hans Prinzhorn. It inspired his lifelong obsession of collecting artwork produced by children, mentally disturbed patients, prisoners and others that were free from the influence of what he called 'intellectual terrorism.'

He's credited for coining the term Art Brut (raw art) which he used to describe the work of the self taught; inspired by its complete purity, emotion, originality and subversiveness.

Dubuffet donated his collection of over 5000 works to the City of Lausanne (Switzerland) which became the heart of their unique museum, Musée de l'Art Brut, inaugurated in 1976.