Bernard Buffet

Buffet, Bernard (1928–99). French painter, etcher, lithographer, designer, and occasional sculptor. A precocious artist, he had developed a distinctive style and won considerable critical acclaim by the age of 20. His work, which includes religious scenes, landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, is instantly recognizable, characterized by elongated, spiky forms with dark outlines, sombre colours, and an overall mood of loneliness and despair. It seemed to express the existential alienation and spiritual solitude of the post-war generation, and Buffet enjoyed enormous success in the 1950s. Later, as he found himself overwhelmed by commissions, his work became more decorative, losing much of its original impact. His final years were marred by Parkinson's disease and he committed suicide.

Buffet, Bernard (1928–99). French painter, etcher, lithographer, designer, and occasional sculptor, born in Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, 1944–5. Highly precocious, he had his first one-man exhibition in 1947, at the Galerie des Impressions d'Art in Paris, and the following year, aged only 20, he was awarded the Prix de la Critique jointly with the much older Bernard Lorjou (see HOMME-TÉMOIN). By this time Buffet had already established his distinctive style, characterized by elongated, spiky forms with dark outlines, sombre colours, and an overall mood of loneliness and despair. He used it for a wide range of subjects, including religious scenes, landscapes, still-lifes, and portraits (Self-portrait, Tate Gallery, London, 1956). His work seemed to express the existential alienation and spiritual solitude of the post-war generation, and he enjoyed enormous success in the 1950s. Later, as he found himself overwhelmed with commissions, his work became more stylized and decorative, losing much of its original impact; but he continued to be highly prolific, eagerly collected, and very wealthy. HIs final years were marred by Parkinson's disease and he comitted suicide.

Buffet, Bernard (b Paris, 10 July 1928; d Tourtour, Var, 4 Oct. 1999). French painter, etcher, lithographer, designer, and occasional sculptor. Precociously gifted, he had developed a distinctive style and won considerable critical acclaim by the age of 20. His work, which includes religious scenes, landscapes, still-lifes, and portraits, is instantly recognizable, characterized by elongated, spiky forms with dark outlines, sombre colours, and an overall mood of loneliness and despair. It seemed to express the existential alienation and spiritual solitude of the post-war generation, and Buffet enjoyed enormous success in the 1950s. Later his work became more stylized and decorative, losing much of its original impact, but he continued to be highly prolific, eagerly collected, and very wealthy. His final years were marred by Parkinson's disease and he committed suicide.