Poussin (Défiguration) - Asger Jorn

Asger Jorn's 'Poussin (Défiguration)' is part of a series where he painted over found paintings, disrupting traditional images with bold, gestural marks. This work exemplifies his experimental approach and rejection of artistic conventions.

Asger Jorn (1914-1973) was a Danish artist, sculptor, ceramicist, and author. He was a founding member of the avant-garde art movement known as the Situationist International. Jorn is known for his expressive and experimental approach to art, often incorporating elements of chance and spontaneity into his work. His practice spanned a variety of media, reflecting a desire to break down traditional artistic boundaries. 'Poussin (Défiguration)' exemplifies Jorn's interest in challenging established artistic conventions. The work is part of a series of 'modifications' or 'disfigurations' of found paintings. Jorn would purchase inexpensive, mass-produced paintings and then paint over them, adding new elements or altering existing ones. In this case, he has taken a reproduction of a classical portrait, possibly after Nicolas Poussin, and added bold, gestural marks in white and red paint. These additions disrupt the original image, creating a jarring contrast between the traditional style of the portrait and Jorn's modern, expressive interventions. The painting's surface is dominated by a dark palette, with the original portrait's features obscured by Jorn's additions. The overall effect is one of iconoclasm and a rejection of traditional artistic values.