Bernard Buffet

BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999).
"L'Elephant , de Mon Cirque", 1968.
Lithograph on Arches paper. Copy 19/120.
Signed and justified by hand.
Measurements: 71,5 x 51 cm.
Bernard Buffet's relationship with the world of the circus constitutes one of the most recognizable chapters of his production, especially from the decade of 1950. Fascinated by this traveling universe, the artist found in it a repertoire of figures that allowed him to deepen his existential and melancholic vision of the human condition. Far from a festive or spectacular representation, Buffet approached the circus from an austere and almost disturbing point of view. His characters appear isolated as in this case.
The figure of Bernard Buffet has recently been revalued, especially since the monographic exhibition organized by the Pompidou Center in 2017. In the post-war context, he developed a language of his own, outside the dominant currents, consolidating himself as one of the most singular voices of the French art scene.
Trained in Paris and at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, he worked alongside 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.