Bernard Buffet: five new original lithographs to discover
New works by Bernard Buffet have just arrived at Galerie 125. Five original lithographs, created between 1961 and 1989, allowing us to explore nearly thirty years of creation and several emblematic themes of the artist.
Dutch landscapes, French architecture, religious scenes, or portraits: this new selection mainly illustrates the astonishing diversity of Bernard Buffet's graphic work, while retaining the sharp lines that immediately identify his work.
Holland through Bernard Buffet's eyes
Holland holds a special place in Bernard Buffet's work. Its landscapes, cities, and especially its windmills provide subjects perfectly suited to his graphic style characterized by straight lines and strong perspectives.
The Three Windmills - 1986
Work reproduced in the catalogue raisonné
"Bernard BUFFET Lithograph Tome 2, Sorlier" under N°475
Available here
In "The Three Windmills," three imposing Dutch windmills structure the entire composition. Bernard Buffet eliminates almost all superfluous elements to focus the gaze on their silhouettes and the horizontality of the landscape.
The sky, with long black lines, contrasts with touches of green and blue. A lithograph immediately identifiable as a work by Buffet, both for its subject and its treatment.
Glass, the city hospital - 1986
Work reproduced in the catalogue raisonné
"Bernard BUFFET Lithograph Tome 2, Sorlier" under N°476
Available here
Created in the same year, "Glass, the city hospital" offers a completely different vision of Holland. The colorful facades, the bell tower, and the canal make up a much denser urban landscape.
The reds and yellows of the buildings stand out against a blue sky with numerous black lines. In the foreground, the water and boats give depth to the whole scene.
These two lithographs from 1986 thus allow us to discover two very different interpretations of Dutch landscapes by Bernard Buffet.
Château de Rochechouart - 1981: a French landscape
Work reproduced in the catalogue raisonné
"Bernard BUFFET Lithograph Volume 2, Sorlier" under No. 357
Available here
With "Château de Rochechouart," Bernard Buffet focuses on French monumental architecture.
The castle dominates the composition while a winding road gradually leads the eye towards the building. The dark tones and bare trees create an almost austere atmosphere, characteristic of many landscapes by the artist.
Created in 1981, this lithograph perfectly shows how Buffet could transform an architectural landscape into a very personal composition through the power of his drawing.
Have Mercy - 1961: an older and unique work
Artwork reproduced in the catalogue raisonné
"Bernard BUFFET Lithograph Volume 2, Sorlier" under No. 304
Available here
Complete change of universe with "Have Mercy," created in 1961.
This lithograph takes us back to an earlier period in Bernard Buffet's career. The composition, dominated by brown and black tones, features elongated and angular figures that immediately recall the artist's unique universe developed during his early decades of creation.
Darker and more expressive than the landscapes presented here, "Have Mercy" allows us to appreciate another facet of his graphic work.
Marianne - 1989: Bernard Buffet and the French Revolution
With "The Revolution, Marianne," created in 1989, Bernard Buffet addresses one of the most symbolic figures in French history.
Marianne is shown in profile, wearing her red Phrygian cap and the tricolor cockade. The contrast between the intense red, the blue background, and the clear face gives this lithograph a particularly strong presence.
Created for the bicentenary of the French Revolution, this artwork combines a historical subject with Bernard Buffet's characteristic graphic style.
Almost thirty years of creation brought together in five lithographs
From "Have Mercy" in 1961 to "Marianne" in 1989, these five new works cover nearly three decades of creation.
What makes this selection interesting is that instead of presenting a single period or theme, it allows us to rediscover several aspects of Bernard Buffet. His Dutch landscapes are alongside a French castle, a much darker scene from his early years, and a historical portrait with particularly bold colors.
Despite this diversity, his identity remains immediately recognizable: nervous black lines, assertive perspectives, angular silhouettes, and compositions built with great economy of means.
New original lithographs by Bernard Buffet at Galerie 125
These five original lithographs add to the selection of works by Bernard Buffet currently offered by Galerie 125.
They are numbered and signed in pencil by Bernard Buffet and offer opportunities to discover different periods and subjects addressed by one of the major French artists of the 20th century.
The three mills, Glass, the city hospital, Rochechouart Castle, Have Mercy and The Revolution, Marianne are now available at Galerie 125.