La Dolce Vita II (Defiguration) - Asger Jorn

Asger Jorn's 'La Dolce Vita II (Defiguration)' is a striking example of his modified paintings, featuring a distorted figure and unsettling imagery that challenges conventional aesthetics. This work reflects Jorn's involvement with the COBRA movement and his interest in subverting established norms.

Asger Jorn, a Danish artist (1914-1973), was a central figure in the COBRA movement, an avant-garde group active in the post-World War II era. COBRA artists sought to break from academic traditions, embracing spontaneity, experimentation, and a return to primal forms of expression. Jorn's work often combined figuration and abstraction, incorporating elements of folklore, mythology, and social critique. He was also known for his modified paintings, or 'defacements', where he would purchase inexpensive paintings and rework them with his own imagery and techniques. 'La Dolce Vita II (Defiguration)' exemplifies Jorn's approach to art making. The painting features a woman in a dark dress, holding a strange, amorphous form that resembles a distorted animal or cloud. The figure's face is rendered with exaggerated features, and the overall composition has a deliberately crude, almost cartoonish quality. The background is a flat, reddish-brown colour, which contrasts with the darker tones of the figure and the object she holds. The painting's title, 'La Dolce Vita' (Italian for 'the sweet life'), is ironic, given the unsettling and somewhat grotesque imagery. This work challenges conventional notions of beauty and taste, reflecting Jorn's interest in subverting established norms.