Bernard
BUFFET
 
     
 
Mini biography
 
  copyright © ADAGP  
     


Iconography

Documentation

 
For his admirers, Bernard Buffet is the "pure genius". He was admitted in "Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts" at the age of 15, then introduced among collectors by the painter "Aujame" and rewarded "Prix de la critique" (Critics Award) at 20 years old. Bernard Buffet is recognised as a master in his art, and his paintings are collected in the most famous museums around the world. The Surugadaira Museum (Japan)
Musée Bernard Buffet de Surugadaira
is specially dedicated to his works and displays around 1,000 of his works.

Bernard Buffet represents a typical demonstration of the divorce between the French and Contemporary Art. Popular artist by excellence, Bernard Buffet loved by the public is however detested by elitists whom hold against him his prolixity : 8,000 paintings, water colors,drawings, lithographs and engravings.

In 1947, Bernard Buffet's personality was revealed by his first angular characters, which classified him as a "Miserabilist" like Francis Gruber
Francis Gruber
or Georges Rouault
Georges Rouault
(expressionist movement).

His meeting with Emmanuel David
Bernard Buffet
Emmanuel David - 1949

oil on canvas - 125 x 47 cm
©ADAGP
in 1948, was the real beginning of his International career, leading to his first exhibition at the "DROUANT-DAVID Gallery" in 1949.

Because paint was expensive, he saved money by using little on his canvas.

So few material and very little colour, only greys, black, "bistres" and greens.
Bernard Buffet - Nativite - 1949
oil on canvas - 65 x 81 cm - ©ADAGP
His paintings are strong and breathtakingly unforgettable.
Bernard Buffet - Femme se coiffant - 1949
oil on canvas - 92 x 65 cm - ©ADAGP
Bernard Buffet's style can be recognised among others by a network of "dry" straight lines grey faces, wrinkled foreheads, scarce straight hair, tensed hands.
Bernard Buffet - Deux femmes - 1950
oil on canvas - 125 x 125 cm - ©ADAGP
His characters seemed crucified. This new artistic personality is recognised : Bernard Buffet's style is born.

Bernard BUFFET has also been classed as a figurative painter, opposed to abstracts, but also and certainly to painters which practised "Social Realism".
 
A total of 53 Theme Exhibitions have taken place since 1952 : La Passion du Christ
Bernard Buffet - LA PASSION DU CHRIST : crucifixion - 1951
oil on canvas - 280 x 500 cm - ©ADAGP
(1952), Horreur de la Guerre
Bernard Buffet - HORREUR DE LA GUERRE : Les fusilles - 1954
oil on canvas - 265 x 600 cm - ©ADAGP
(1954), Jeanne d'Arc
Bernard Buffet - JEANNE D'ARC : Les Voix - 1957
oil on canvas - 210 x 400 cm - ©ADAGP
(1958), Portraits d'Annabel
Bernard Buffet - PORTRAITS D'ANNABEL :
Annabel en T-shirt - 1960

oil on canvas - 130 x 81 cm - ©ADAGP
(1961), la Chapelle de Château l'Arc
Bernard Buffet - LA CHAPELLE DE CHATEAU L'ARC :
Christ Misericordieux - 1961

oil on canvas - 200 x 200 cm - ©ADAGP
(1962), Les ecorches
Bernard Buffet - LES ECORCHES : Tete d'ecorche - 1964
oil on canvas - 146 x 114 cm - ©ADAGP
(1965), La corrida
Bernard Buffet - LA CORRIDA : Desplante de rodillas - 1966
oil on canvas - 250 x 550 cm - ©ADAGP
(1967) or, Les Folles
Bernard Buffet - LES FOLLES : Femmes aux chapeaux - 1970
oil on canvas - 97 x 130 cm - ©ADAGP
(1971), L'enfer de DANTE
Bernard Buffet - L'ENFER DE DANTE : Damnes pris dans les glaces - 1976
oil on canvas - 250 x 430 cm - ©ADAGP
(1977) and La Révolution Francaise
Bernard Buffet - LA REVOLUTION FRANCAISE : La prise des Tuileries - 1977
oil on canvas - 245 x 430 cm - ©ADAGP
(1978), Le Japon
Bernard Buffet - LE JAPON : Temple Byodoin, Kyoto - 1980
oil on canvas - 130 x 195 cm - ©ADAGP
(1981), Vingt mille lieues sous les mers
Bernard Buffet - 20000 LIEUES SOUS LES MERS - Le combat avec le requin - 1989
oil on canvas - 248 x 488 cm - ©ADAGP
(1990), Souvenirs d'Italie
Bernard Buffet - SOUVENIRS D'ITALIE : La Rotonda - 1991
oil on canvas - 130 x 195 cm - ©ADAGP
(1991), New York
Bernard Buffet - NEW-YORK : Brooklyn bridge - 1989
oil on canvas - 114 x 195 cm - ©ADAGP
(1991), Les Clowns Musiciens
Bernard Buffet - LES CLOWNS MUSICIENS : La Danseuse - 1991
oil on canvas - 230 x 430 cm - ©ADAGP
(1992), Saint-Petersbourg
Bernard Buffet - SAINT-PETERSBOURG :
Eglise St Nicolas des Marins - 1992

oil on canvas - 162 x 130 cm - ©ADAGP
(1992), L'Empire ou les plaisirs de la guerre
Bernard Buffet - L'EMPIRE OU LES PLAISIRS DE LA GUERRE : Apres le viol - 1992
oil on canvas - 238 x 396 cm - ©ADAGP
(1993), Promenade Provencale
Bernard Buffet - PROMENADE PROVENCALE : Moutiers Saint-Marie - 1993
oil on canvas - 130 x 195 cm - ©ADAGP
(1993), Sept peches capitaux
Bernard Buffet - LES SEPT PECHES CAPITAUX : L'envie - 1994
oil on canvas - 220 x 210 cm - ©ADAGP
(1995), Pekin
Bernard Buffet - PEKIN : Le Palais d'Eté, Le Pavillon du Nuage Précieux - 1995
oil on canvas - 114 x 146 cm - ©ADAGP
(1996), La maison
Bernard Buffet - LA MAISON : La Maison et la fontaine - 1997
oil on canvas - 89 x 130 cm - ©ADAGP
(1998), Mes Singes
Bernard Buffet - MES SINGES : Orang-outan femelle - 1997
oil on canvas - 162 x 130 cm - ©ADAGP
(1999).

The last Exhibition : La Mort...
Bernard Buffet - La Mort (n° 5) - 1999
oil on canvas - 195 x 114 cm - ©ADAGP
(the death) as been organised by the Maurice Garnier Gallery in February 2,000.

Bernard BUFFET has exhibited throughout the World : London, New-York, Chicago, Palm Beach, Montreal, Rome, Venice, Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels, Bale, Geneva, Berlin, Tokyo.
 
" Abstract Painting is limited and boring, while figurative is unlimited "
 
Exceptional engraver, Bernard Buffet chisels his own copper plates, he is also recognised for his remarkable book's illustrations with for instance " La voix humaine
Bernard Buffet - Illustration de LA VOIX HUMAINE - 1957
engraving - 45.5 x 44.5 cm - ©ADAGP
" of Jean Cocteau, and the decoration he realised for Serge Lifar Ballets in Paris Opera-Garnier. Bernard Buffet is also reputed for his lithographs.

In a poll realised in 1992 for the French magazine "Beaux-Arts", French people declared preferring Bernard Buffet to Vermeer or Andy Warhol.

He was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts
Bernard Buffet à l'Académie des Beaux Arts
in 1974.
(translation by Youri SREBOT)