Gaston Chaissac's Letters Reveal an Artist-Writer's Dual Practice
Two recently published collections of letters shed light on Gaston Chaissac, a self-taught artist and correspondent who distanced himself from mainstream art. The volumes—“Lettres à Jean Paulhan 1944-1963” (Éditions Claire Paulhan) and “Correspondance 1946-1964” with Jean Dubuffet (Gallimard)—include excerpts from a vast trove of 20,000 to 30,000 letters. Chaissac, who received training from Otto Freundlich, resided in Vendée, where his wife worked as a teacher. He invented the term "poubellication" and collaborated with Dubuffet, who published "Hippobosque au bocage" (Gallimard, 1951). His letters, rich with drawings and collages, showcase innovative formats. Although he stopped painting during a period of depression, he remained committed to writing. Dubuffet remarked that Chaissac’s difficult experiences shaped his artistic expression. Laurent Perez's article appears in artpress.
Key facts
- Two volumes of Chaissac's correspondence published: with Jean Paulhan (1944-1963) and with Jean Dubuffet (1946-1964).
- Chaissac wrote an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 letters.
- He was trained as a painter by Otto Freundlich.
- He lived in Vendée, where his wife was a teacher.
- Dubuffet was his patron, collector, editor, and friend.
- Dubuffet compiled Chaissac's texts into 'Hippobosque au bocage' (1951).
- Paulhan published Chaissac's letters in 'Cahiers de la Pléiade' and 'Nouvelle NRF'.
- Chaissac experimented with unconventional materials: rotting leather, tree stumps, mop painting, peelings.
- His letters feature drawings, collages, and performative self-awareness.
- He used nonstandard spelling and punctuation as formal experimentation (e.g., 'vat' for 'va').
- When depressed or lacking materials, he stopped painting but continued writing.
- The article is by Laurent Perez in artpress.
Entities
Artists
- Gaston Chaissac
- Jean Dubuffet
- Jean Paulhan
- Otto Freundlich
- Jeanne Tripier
- Edmund Mach
- Christian Boltanski
- Louis-Ferdinand Céline
- Laurent Perez
Institutions
- Éditions Claire Paulhan
- Gallimard
- Finitude
- Cahiers de la Pléiade
- Nouvelle NRF
- artpress
Locations
- Vendée
- France
Sources
- artpress —