Yves Tenret's 'Portrait de l'artiste en l'artiste' Examines Artistic Rebellion

Yves Tenret's essay 'Portrait de l'artiste en l'artiste,' published by Éditions de la différence, explores the figure of insubordination in art through artists like Dubuffet, Ensor, and Bosch. The work questions whether these 'barbarians' share a common revolt expressed in difficult forms, or if the book is a series of rapid monographs with remarkable facts. Tenret aims to demystify obscure points, correct biographies, and argue that having a body of work is not enough; what matters is discerning artists whose work stems from an inner necessity that makes them rebels. The essay is humorous at times, such as in the portrait of bigamist Raoul Hausmann in Limoges, and defines a critical activity that is precise and documented, avoiding philosophy of art or taste science. Reviewer Thérèse Moro notes it offers a chance to remember that art is not strictly the result of a system.