JEAN DUBUFFET, “creator” of this word which he very quickly prohibited from using for works other than those in his collection, defines it, goes over its nuances, refines it in all his related books, such as Prospectus and all following writings (4 volumes), and especially L'Homme du commun à l'ouvrage.
It is therefore useless to pretend to invent in the matter. It is better to quote the author: Here is an extract from a text published in 1947 and entitled "L'Art brut".
“There are”, he says, “(there are everywhere and always in art, two orders. There is customary (or polite) (or perfect) art (it has been baptized, according to the fashion of the time, classical art, romantic or baroque art, or whatever you like, but it's always the same); and there is (which is stealthy as a deer), art brut...
To formulate what it is, this raw art, sure that is none of my business. ... Art brut is a modest art which often does not even know that it is called “art”.
