Bernard Buffet Art

When we mention Bernard Buffet, we instinctively think of his tortured portraits and dark representations of human emotions. However, his work presents a much richer and more complex dimension, such as this less conventional canvas, which, instead of focusing on characters, captures a Parisian scene in a landscape format. In this work, a view of the Seine and the sky, a fragment of the Eiffel Tower blending into a green that seems largely fantasized, a bridge and a total absence of human figures launch the viewer into a visual meditation of the secrets that reside at the heart of the City of Lights. The artist uses black not simply as a color but as a proper tool for sculpting. Shapes are drawn and delineated, contrasting with washed-out colors such as blue and green. Black symbolizes the mystery and inaccessibility of the emotions that the artist seeks to express. Unlike his other works, adding characters to tell a story, Buffet, with this piece, appears more interested in the elements and structural aspects of the composition itself. Buffet succeeds in establishing a link between the observer and the piece represented. The Eiffel Tower and the bridge become the keepers of secrets, frameworks that bear the weight of Paris's history. The river mirrors...

Lithograph, 1984 Edition : 31/150 Publisher : Maurice Garnier (Paris) Printer : Mourlot (Paris) 58.00 cm. x 76.00 cm. 22.83 in. x 29.92 in. (paper) 50.00 cm. x 65.50 cm. 19.69 in. ...

Artist: Bernard Buffet Medium: Lithograph on Arches, 1988 Dimensions: 29.75 x 22.75 in, 75.6 x 57.8 cm

Le monocycle (Performer on a Unicycle) Color lithograph, 1968 Signed and numbered in pencil lower left corner From the portfolio "Mon Cirque" (My Circus) Edition: 120 (12/120) Refere...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Une petite plage (A Small Beach), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by T...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Saint-Tropez (Saint-Tropez), originates from the 1979 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe I (Bernard Buffet, Lithographe...

Bernard Buffet Lescamillo, 1962 Lithograph Hand signed lower right, Numbered 102/180 Image size: 65 x 50.5 cm Sheet size: 76 x 56 cm Reference : Buisson, no.56.62

Lithograph, 1985 Edition : 54/150 Publisher : Maurice Garnier (Paris) Printer : Mourlot (Paris) Catalog : [Sorlier 465] 58.00 cm. x 76.00 cm. 22.83 in. x 29.92 in. (paper) 50.00 cm....

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Sur la plage (On the Beach), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tudor ...

Le Petite Plage By Bernard Buffet 1967 Medium: Lithograph Paper Size: 12.25 x 9.5 inches ( 31 x 24 cm ) Image Size: 12.25 x 9.5 inches ( 31 x 24 cm ) Edition Size: Unknown

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Couple d'oiseaux (Pair of Birds), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by T...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Clown sur fond rouge (Clown on Red Background), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tudor Publishing Company, New York, under the direction of Fernand Mourlot, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, November 1967. The composition exemplifies Buffet’s austere poetic vision, presenting the solitary clown figure through rigid structure, stark contour, and controlled spatial tension that reflect his mature graphic language and existential restraint. Executed as a lithograph on velin Acropole paper, papier fabrique par les Papeteries de Renage, this work measures 12.375 x 9.5 inches (31.43 x 24.13 cm). Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued. The printing reflects the technical authority of the Mourlot Freres atelier, long regarded as the foremost fine art lithographic studio of the twentieth century. Artwork Details: Artist: Bernard Buffet (1928–1999) Title: Clown sur fond rouge (Clown on Red Background), from Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, 1967 Medium: Lithograph on velin Acropole, papier fabrique par les Papeteries de Renage Dimensions: 12.375 x 9.5 inches (31.43 x 24.13 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued Date: 1967 Publisher: Tudor Publishing Company, New York, under the direction of Fernand Mourlot, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne reference: Buffet, Bernard, and Charles Sorlier. Bernard Buffet: Lithographe I-II. M. Trinckvel, 1979-1987, illustration 103-115 Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tudor Publishing Company, New York Notes: Excerpted from the album, Executed in November 1967 on the press of Fernand Mourlot, Paris, France, this work has been printed on velin Acropole manufactured by Papeteries de Renage. The typography is by the Imprimerie Union. CXXV press-numbered examples were printed on velin d'Arches. Each includes two additional original lithographs by Bernard Buffet, bearing the signature of the artist. About the Publication: Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published in 1967 by Tudor Publishing Company in New York under the artistic direction of Fernand Mourlot, stands as one of the most authoritative surveys of Buffet’s graphic production. Conceived to present a comprehensive view of his lithographic work to an international audience, the album reflects the high standards of Parisian art publishing in the mid twentieth century, emphasizing clarity, tonal fidelity, and elegant design. The collaboration with Mourlot Freres ensured exceptional fidelity to Buffet’s line, preserving the sharp contrasts and architectural rigor that define his style. Carefully produced with attention to paper quality, typography, and printing precision, the publication documents more than a decade of Buffet’s evolution as a printmaker and occupies a central position in the scholarship and collecting of his graphic oeuvre. Today, the album remains among the most sought after examples, valued for its documentation of one of the era’s most recognizable and debated artistic voices. About the Artist: Bernard Buffet (1928–1999) was a French painter and printmaker whose unmistakable linear style, technical precision, and emotional intensity made him one of the most influential and prolific artists of the 20th century. Born in Paris, Buffet entered the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts at fifteen and soon developed a visual language defined by taut black outlines, muted tones, and haunting stillness that reflected the existential climate of postwar Europe. Influenced by Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, Buffet forged a path that blended classical rigor with modern expression. Emerging in the late 1940s as a prodigy of French modernism, he rose to fame after his work L'Homme accoude was acquired by the Musee National d'Art Moderne, and by his early twenties, he was being heralded as a successor to Picasso. His stark depictions of Parisian streets, still lifes, religious scenes, clowns, and self portraits embodied the human struggle with isolation and resilience, capturing the postwar spirit with both intellect and empathy. Buffet’s disciplined draftsmanship, emotional gravity, and refusal to abandon figuration during the dominance of abstraction set him apart from his contemporaries and aligned him with the existentialism of Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he achieved international acclaim, exhibiting across Europe, America, and Asia, and in 1955 won the Prix de la Critique. His prolific output of over eight thousand works across painting, lithography, and illustration secured his place as one of the defining artistic voices of his generation. His highest auction record was achieved by Le Cirque (1961), which sold for 13.6 million USD at Christies Hong Kong on May 26, 2022. Bernard Buffet Clown...

Very rare and important work for a set design.

Bernard Buffet (French, 1928 – 1999) was a French painter, printmaker, and sculptor. An extremely prolific artist, he produced a varied and extensive body of work. His style was excl...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Jojo le clown (Jojo the Clown), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tud...

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in Paris in 1968 by the Mourlot Freres atelier. Size: 12 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches (313 x 235 mm). Not signed.

Bernard Buffet - House of Cards - Original Lithograph Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm Edition : 6000 Paris, Michèle Trinckvel, Draeger, 1979, Unsigned and unumb...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Nature morte avec des fruits (Still Life with Fruits), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Nature morte avec une bouteille (Still Life with a Bottle), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs...

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in Paris in 1968 by the Mourlot Freres atelier. Size: 12 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches (310 x 237 mm). There is printed text on the back side, as issued. Si...

Bernard Buffet, French (1928 - 1999) - Microscope. Year: 1968, Medium: Lithograph Poster, Size: 23 x 18 in. (58.42 x 45.72 cm)

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Petit hibou (Little Owl), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tudor Pub...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Une petite plage (A Small Beach), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by T...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Une petite plage (A Small Beach), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by T...

Bernard BUFFET Siemens computer, 1968 MEDIUM : Lithograph PRINTER : Atelier Mourlot SIGNATURE : Plate signed PAPER : Vellum DIMENSIONS : 33 x 67 cm - 13 x 27" Excellent co...

Color lithograph realized by Buffet in 1960. Hand signed in pencil lower right. Edition of 59/125; numbered in pencil. Burnishing of the sheet on edges.

Bernard Buffet Crocus jaunes, 1987 Lithograph Hand signed low right Numbered 15/150 Image 67 x 50 cm Sheet 75 x 58 Framing is an option, will be framed with an aluminium frame, an a...

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in Paris in 1968 by the Mourlot Freres atelier. Size: 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (310 x 240 mm). Signed in the plate, not by hand.

These works were printed in November 1967 by Fernand Mourlot, master lithographer in Paris.

This artwork, titled "Le Travesti" (The Transvestite) from the suite "Mon Cirque" 1968, is an original color lithograph on Arches paper by renown French artist Bernard Buffet, 1928-...

This striking original exhibition poster was created for the Bernard Buffet show Kabuki, held at the Galerie Maurice Garnier in Paris from February 4 to March 26, 1988. A rare and atmospheric piece, it showcases the French expressionist’s intense fascination with the theatricality and symbolism of Japanese Kabuki theatre. The central image features two dramatic Kabuki figures in stylized traditional robes, rendered in Buffet’s unmistakable graphic style—angular lines, stark contrasts, and somber, mask-like faces. The elongated limbs and exaggerated expressions exemplify Buffet’s signature approach to the human form, while the intricate detailing of the costumes reveals his respect for the cultural richness of Kabuki performance. This poster is more than a simple exhibition announcement—it is a work of art in its own right, reflecting a unique cultural dialogue between East and West. Printed in bold black with elegant gold typography, it captures the refinement of the Galerie Maurice Garnier and the theatrical elegance of the subject. An exceptional piece for collectors of Bernard Buffet, theatrical art, or vintage French exhibition posters...

Lithograph, 1986 Edition : EA XXVI/XXX Printer : Sorlier (Paris) Catalog : [Sorlier II, jacquette de couverture] 54.00 cm. x 76.00 cm. 21.26 in. x 29.92 in. (paper) 35.00 cm. x 54.0...

Drypoint etching on papier de Rives B.F.K. pur fil paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition, with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From the folio, Voyages fantastiques ...

Drypoint etching on papier de Rives B.F.K. pur fil paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Voyages fantastiques aux États et empires de la l...

These works were printed in November 1967 by Fernand Mourlot, master lithographer in Paris.

Drypoint etching on papier de Rives B.F.K. pur fil paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Voyages fantastiques aux États et empires de la l...

Untitled is a modern artwork realized by Bernard Buffet (Parigi 1928-Tourtour 1999) in 1954. Mixed colored lithograph. Includes frame: 84 x 70 cm Signature, date and edition on pl...

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in Paris in 1968 by the Mourlot Freres atelier. Size: 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (310 x 240 mm). There is printed text on the back, as issued. Signed ...

Bernard Buffet Blue Flowers Stone lithograph in colors Printed signature in the plate On Arches vellum 38 x 28 cm (c. 15 x 11 in) INFORMATION : Edited for the portfolio Les Peintr...

These works were printed in November 1967 by Fernand Mourlot, master lithographer in Paris.

Bernard BUFFET (1928-1999) Circus : Jojo The Clown, 1967 Original Lithograph (Mourlot workshop) Printed signature in the plate On Vidalon vellum 31 x 24 cm (c. 12.2 x 9.44 in) REFERENCE : Catalog of Bernard Buffet lithograph...

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in Paris in 1979 on Arches paper for the "Bernard Buffet Lithographe" catalogue raisonne. Size: 12 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches (318 x 235 mm). Not signed....

Lithograph, 1984 Edition : 29/150 Publisher : Maurice Garnier (Paris) Printer : Mourlot (Paris) Catalog : [Sorlier 435] 58.00 cm. x 76.00 cm. 22.83 in. x 29.92 in. (paper) 50.00 cm....

Bernard BUFFET (1928-1999) Still Life with Violin, 1965 Original lithograph (Mourlot workshop) Printed signature in the plate On vellum 30 x 24 cm (c. 11.8 x 9.4 in) INFORMATION :...

Lithograph, 1986 Edition : EA XXX/XXX Publisher : Maurice Garnier (Paris) Printer : Mourlot (Paris) Catalog : [Sorlier 489] 76.00 cm. x 58.00 cm. 29.92 in. x 22.83 in. (paper) 65.00...

These works were printed in November 1967 by Fernand Mourlot, master lithographer in Paris.

This vivid and atmospheric landscape, titled Château en Bretagne, paysage d'automne, is a masterwork of Bernard Buffet, one of the most distinctive and prolific French painters of th...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Violon et partition de Mozart (Violin and Mozart Score), from the folio Lettre a mon peintre Raoul Dufy (Letter to My Painter Raoul Dufy), originates from the 1965 edition published by Librairie academique Perrin et Cie, Paris...

Drypoint etching on papier de Rives B.F.K. pur fil paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Voyages fantastiques aux États et empires de la l...

Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) - Voyages Fantastiques aux États et Empires de la Lune et du Soleil (Cyrano de Bergerac) Complete portfolio of 18 original drypoint etchings from 1958. E...

Drypoint etching on papier de Rives B.F.K. pur fil paper. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Voyages fantastiques aux États et empires de la l...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Les ombelles (The Umbels), originates from the 1972 edition published by Editions A. C. Mazo et Cie., Paris, in collab...

This striking 1967 original travel poster by Bernard Buffet was commissioned by the Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) to promote rail travel to the French capital. With its moody palett...

Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) - Horreur de la guerre Lithograph from 1960. The edition 280/300. Dimensions of work: 69 x 56 cm. Plate signed. Publisher: Éditions du Lion, Paris. T...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Maison de BB (House of BB), originates from the 1987 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe II (Bernard Buffet, Lithographe...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Saint-Tropez (Saint-Tropez), originates from the 1979 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe I (Bernard Buffet, Lithographe...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Saint-Tropez (Saint-Tropez), originates from the 1979 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe I (Bernard Buffet, Lithographe...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Nature morte aux iris (Still Life with Irises), originates from the 1979 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe I (Bernard ...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Chateau de cartes (House of Cards), originates from the 1979 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographe I, published by Edition...

This exquisite lithograph by Bernard Buffet (1928–1999), titled Un torero (A Bullfighter), originates from the 1967 album Bernard Buffet, Lithographs 1952-1966, published by Tudor Pu...