Signature
Signed upper left Bernard Buffet and dated 1978
PROVENANCE
Christie's, Lodon, February 5, 2015, lot 403
Private collection, Asia
+ OVERVIEW
Bernard Buffet, the representing post-war figurative art master in France, who foothold the important territory in art history, enjoying a very high reputation in Asia and cherish among global collectors, making him considered as the artist in the Hall of Fame. His talent was demonstrated while he was young, in 1955 when Buffet was only 27 years old, he was already named as the best out of the top ten post war artists by “Connaissance des Arts”. In 1974, when he was only 46 years old, he was selected as a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. He has created more than 8,000 works in his life, his amazing creativity has left a series of classic works. Buffet devoted his life to painting for more than 50 years, his themes were mostly circus clown, toreador, portrait, landscape, flower and still life. After rising up in the art world in the 1940s, in the 1950s, Buffet focused on painting, mostly using melancholy portraits to express the disturbed state of mind among French people after the war. While in the 1960s, the people and objects in his paintings became more high pitched and indignant through his sharp and rough lines. In "Still Life with Tulips" Buffet outlines the rattan basket with bold and powerful black lines. Rattan basket and yellow tulips are placed harmoniously on the left and right handed sides of the picture. The novel composition draws the viewer's visual focus from the center of the painting to the scenery behind. The proportionate of the picture is extended, the fiery power seems to spread from the center of emphasis to all directions. His full of personality signature and the way he writes the dates are undoubtedly his unique style. They are not hidden in the corner of the picture, but are placed next to the subject as an important part in balancing the composition of the picture. Buffet's artistic essence of using objects as metaphors for feelings is more in line with the introverted and reserved personality of the oriental people. His sharp and concise lines and distinctive treatment in space display a certain similarity with traditional Japanese woodblock prints. "Still Life with Tulips" presents the artist's charming style in the 1980s, which is truly a wonderful and extraordinary painting.