BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999). "Delphinius... Lot 124

BERNARD BUFFET (Paris, 1928 - Tourtour, 1999). "Delphinius mouves", 1965. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated in the upper right corner. It has craquelure on the lower part. Measurements: 73 x 50 cm. The figure of Bernard Buffet has recently been revalued thanks to monographic exhibitions such as the one dedicated to him at the Pompidou Centre in Paris in 2017. In the artistic context of the post-war period, Buffet renewed the repertoire of forms by immersing himself in his own way, outside the dominant trends and fashions. Still lifes such as the present one (still lifes and portraits were the genres he worked on most) are paradigmatic of his desire to strip the image of all superfluous elements, to advocate an austere painting that conveys the effort to unlearn acquired languages. He was not yet sixteen when Berbard Buffer enrolled in drawing classes in his native Paris. He later began to study 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 he became famous and popular. In 1953 he already had the best reputation among young French painters and in that decade his works were shown 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.