Le Bon Causeur (The Chatterer)
- Artist: Jean Dubuffet
- Date: 1951
- Medium: oil-based putty, oil glazes thinned with turpentine or varni, scraping, incising and wiping on paper, laid down on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "The Chatterer" by Jean Dubuffet, painted in 1951. At first glance the grinning figure in a hat looks like a child’s doodle—part stick‑figure, part amorphous blob. Dubuffet was fascinated by Art Brut, the raw work of children and untrained artists, and this piece is a direct outgrowth of that interest. He used oil‑based putty as a textured base, then applied oil glazes thinned with turpentine or varni. The surface is further shaped by scraping, incising, and wiping onto paper before it’s laid on canvas, giving the work a tactile, almost sculptural quality.
The title hints at the character’s personality: an overly talkative man who seems to be calling you over with a wave. You can almost feel the energy radiating from his wide grin and outstretched hand. The simplicity of the form contrasts with the complexity of the materials, reflecting Dubuffet’s belief that art can emerge from the most unpretentious places. This piece invites you to look beyond conventional techniques and appreciate the honest, spontaneous expression found in Art Brut.
See it in person
Le Bon Causeur (The Chatterer) hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
