Bernard Buffet

Bernard Buffet was a French painter whose stark, linear style made him one of the most recognizable artists of the postwar era. Born in Paris, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and quickly attracted attention for his austere depictions of everyday life, characterized by angular forms, somber palettes, and a sense of existential melancholy. In 1948, at just twenty years old, he won the Prix de la Critique, establishing himself as one of the leading young artists of his generation.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Buffet rose to international fame, his works exhibited in major galleries and collected worldwide. Associated with the movement of "Misérabilisme," his paintings often portrayed still lifes, landscapes, and figures with a distinctive graphic austerity. He also explored themes of religion, mythology, and literature, producing vast series of paintings that combined rigorous draftsmanship with emotional intensity. His success was such that, in 1958, he was featured on the cover of Paris Match as the symbol of postwar French painting.

Despite his early acclaim, Buffet’s reputation declined in the latter part of the 20th century, as critics dismissed his style as repetitive and overly commercial. However, his prolific output — more than 8,000 works — and the unmistakable originality of his vision continue to attract renewed interest. Today, his art is represented in major museums, including the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and the Bernard Buffet Museum in Surugadaira, Japan. Buffet remains a complex figure: both a popular icon and a controversial presence in the history of modern French art.