Bernard Buffet

BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999).
"The three black black blackbirds", 1950.
Oil on canvas.
Attached certificate of authenticity signed by Ida Garnier and Jacques Gasbarian of the Galerie Maurice Garnier in Paris.
Presents stamps on the back of the Gallery Joël Salaün (Paris).
Provenance: Opera Gallery (New York).
Signed and dated in the upper right corner.
Measurements: 73 x 100 cm; 98 x 126 cm (frame).
Throughout his career the presence of birds was a distinctive and frequent feature in Buffet's still lifes. In some cases bathed in color or as in this work black blackbirds that are statically arranged on stands resting on a table. The sobriety and the static nature of the elements that make up the scene are invaded by the use of a vibrant technique of furious strokes. Over the years, Buffet developed a distinctive style of elongated, pointed forms, somber colors, flattened spaces, and an overall mood of loneliness and despair. His work revolves around ideas about art history, death, sexuality, popular culture and politics. He explored the type of composition present here, an example of which is a painting acquired at Christie's in 1999, where the same scenario can be seen, albeit with a single blackbird, a cup and a letter, also painted in 1950. Bernard Buffet marked forever the universe of expressionist painting with his singular imprint. His figurative painting opposed abstract painting at a time when many painters had thrown themselves into imaginary spaces to escape from social reality. Bernard Buffet created his own path and his vision led him to the heights of fame to become one of the greatest expressionist painters of his time.
The figure of Bernard Buffet has recently been revalued thanks to monographic exhibitions such as the one dedicated to him by the Pompidou Center in Paris in 2017. In the artistic context of the postwar period, Buffet renewed the repertoire of forms by immersing himself in his own path, alien to dominant fashions and currents. Still lifes such as the one in question (the still life and portrait genre were the ones he mostly worked on) are paradigmatic of his will to strip the image of all superfluous elements, to advocate for an austere painting that transmits the effort to unlearn acquired languages.He had not yet turned sixteen when Berbard Buffer enrolled in drawing classes in his hometown, Paris. Later he began studying art at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts where he consolidated his artistic training. Among his classmates were Maurice Boitel and Louis Vuillermoz. During this period he began to work in the studio of the painter Eugène Narbonne. Later he was hired exclusively by Emmanuel David, and also by Maurice Garnier, who guaranteed him regular exhibitions. He joined the Homme-Témoin group and overnight fame and popularity came to him. In 1953 he already had the best poster among young French painters and in that decade he hung his works in numerous exhibitions. Buffet's influence and his work achieved great recognition in Paris, the city of art at that time. He had many disciples who followed and developed his style. Today his work can be found in numerous private collections and important art spaces. Selection of awards: 1947 Member of the Salon d'Automne. 1947 Member of the Société des Artistes Indépendants. 1948 co-recipient of the Prix de la Critique with Bernard Lorjou. 1950 Prix Puvis de Chavannes 1955 First Prize for Magazine Connaissance. 1973 Officer of the Légion d'Honneur. 1974 Member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.