Bernard Buffet

BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999).
"Le Mans, Tuinnel", 1985.
Lithograph on paper. Copy 77/150.
Signed and justified by hand.
Measurements: 58 x 76 cm.
Created in the final stage of Bernard Buffet's career, this work represents an urban scene in Le Mans, centered on the bridge type "tunnel" of architectural character. The distinctive features of his style are recognizable in it: elongated buildings, rigid geometric structures and a marked black outline that generates an atmosphere often described as solitary or austere. Unlike his earlier works, which were more dystopian in tone, this 1985 piece incorporates a more vibrant palette, while retaining his characteristic "graphic" central composition.
Trained in Paris and at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, he worked with artists such as Maurice Boitel and Louis Vuillermoz, and in the studio of Eugène Narbonne. His career took off quickly after joining the Homme-Témoin group, achieving early fame and notable success in the 1950s, when he was already considered one of the most outstanding young painters in France.
Supported by dealers such as Emmanuel David and Maurice Garnier, Buffet exhibited widely and exerted a strong influence, even generating a school of followers. Throughout his career he received important awards, including the Prix de la Critique (1948), the Prix Puvis de Chavannes (1950) and his admission to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1974, as well as being named an officer of the Légion d'Honneur.
His work is part of outstanding collections such as the Pompidou Center, the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, and his legacy reaches international projection, with a museum dedicated exclusively to his work in Japan.