Bernard Buffet

BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999).
"Edith Piaf".
Silkscreen.
Hand signed.
In very good condition.
Measurements: 120 x 160 cm.

Striking portrait dedicated to Edith Piaf, one of the most emblematic figures of the French culture of the 20th century, reinterpreted by Bernard Buffet through his unmistakable expressionist language. The elongated face, the mouth open in an almost dramatic gesture and the incisive stroke convey an intense emotional charge, accentuated by the use of contrasting colors and a frontal composition of great visual strength.

The work perfectly exemplifies Buffet's mature style, characterized by a hard, angular and nervous line, as well as by an existential and stark vision of the portrait. The choice of Piaf as a motif reinforces the link between the artist's work and the great French cultural myths, approached from a deeply personal perspective.

Bernard Buffet's large format silkscreen prints, especially those signed and dedicated to iconic figures, are particularly appreciated in the graphic art market, both for their aesthetic power and their ability to synthesize the essential features of his pictorial production.

Bernard Buffet was one of the most renowned French artists of the 20th century and a key figure of expressionist realism. His work is part of the collections of the Musée National d'Art Moderne - Centre Pompidou and the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, as well as international institutions such as the Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. His production, marked by an angular drawing and an austere vision of the human figure, occupies a prominent place in post-war European figurative art.