Bernard Buffet (1928-1999)

Think that you may own a painting by Bernard Buffet? We authenticate, appraise, research and issue certificates of authenticity (COA) and provide consultations for all paintings by Bernard Buffet.

Bernard Buffet was a French painter and graphic artist who created striking and fun modern images in an Expressionist style that was all his own. He created very stylized and fresh portraits that were both realistic and edgy with a unique flavor and tone.

Many of these were somewhat dark self-portraits, always signed with his prominent script signature "Bernard Buffet."

Buffet created a world that was dark and gritty, in an unmistakable hand and style that was exclusive to him alone. He created many Parisian scenes with this same style and from his own unique point-of-view.

Buffet worked in many mediums, and executed his style and signature look equally with watercolor, pastels, chalk and lithography. Paris, still life, owls, harlequins, portraits and city scenes were among his favorites to create, and each were executed with a strange but beautiful combination of gritty playfulness.

Buffet was born in Paris, and began his first studies at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, and studied there for two years. He worked alone after this time, and showed his first work, a self-portrait, in 1946 at the Salon des Moins de Trente Ans at the Galerie Beaux-Arts at the age of 18. His earliest works were devoid of much color, and were created using mostly black, white, and grey, and his subjects were almost Cubist in nature.

In 1948, his painting "Le Buveur" was exhibited at the Young Painters Exhibition at the Galerie Drouant-David and was purchased by a doctor, who later donated it to the Paris Museum of Modern Art after his death.

After the successful sale of this painting, Buffet was asked to join with the gallery of Emmanuel David exclusively, and he shared a contract with Maurice Garnier. Buffet would continue to have a successful art career in Paris, and moved to a small home in Nanse from 1951-1954. The following year, he moved to Chateau l'Arc near Aix-en-Provence where he lived until 1964. During this time, Buffet kept his same boxy and gritty style, but began to employ more color into his ever-evolving pieces.

In 1958, Buffet held his first retrospective at the Galerie Charpentier, and also married Annabel Schwob that same year. Annabel would become one of his most frequent models. He would have two daughters, Virginie and Daniel, with Annabel, and they would become sitters for him as well.

In 1961, Buffet created a series of paintings on the life of Jesus Christ which was intended to decorate the Chapelle de Chateau l'Arc. He later offered these paintings to the Vatican Museum, where they remain in their permanent exhibition today.

Throughout the rest of his life, he lived in Brittany, Paris and Normandy and published his works numerous times. Buffet held a number of exhibitions in his lifetime, all with themes such as nudes, the circus, self-portraits, Japan, landscapes, churches of France and more. He worked right up until his death in 1999, and his works are housed all over the world, including at the Bernard Buffet Museum in Japan.

Buffet remains one of the most compelling French graphic artists of his era, and his compositions are still highly-regarded and sought after today. He was a very prolific artist, and created a number of pieces in different styles and subjects, making it very possible for virtually anyone to own his work. Still wondering about a late 20th century Expressionist painting hanging in your home? Contact us...it could be by Bernard Buffet.