PRINTPROVENANCE:
Shinwa Art Auction, Tokyo, January 23, 2010, lot 31
Private collection, Asia (Acquired from the above by the present owner)
ILLUSTRATED:
Charles Sorlier, Bernard Buffet Lithographe, Editions Michel Trinckvel, Paris, 1979, Nos. 116-119, p. 79
Catalogue Note:
An artistic genius of the post-war era, Bernard Buffet had deeply emotional and personal memories of Paris. In 1957 and 1988, he completed a series of oil paintings with the theme of Paris. Before his lithograph screen prints of the Paris Scenery series (1967), Buffet had created two sets of paper lithograph screen prints titled, Annabel Naked Posture and Musical Instrument between 1960 and 1961. Later on, the Paris Scenery series marks the largest scenerythemed lithograph Buffet ever created. They consist of four Paris landmarks: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, Saint-Jacques Tower, Eiffel Tower, and
Moulin de la Galette, which represent architectural styles and historical events from different time periods. With the precise brushstrokes of Buffet, they display a new generation of Parisian landscapes across long and narrow screens, providing viewers a glimpse of urban styles through the eyes of an artistic master.
Paravents are a Chinese invention introduced to Europe in the fifteenth century. During the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries, they became particular popular among European courts. With advancements in construction technology, the features of paravents in spatial furnishings tended to become more decorative and practical in value. In earlier periods, only members of the nobility could afford paravents comprised of fine wood, brass, gold foil, silk, and other precious materials. Gradually, they became more popular among commoners, and these materials became replaced with paper and thin layers of wood. The paravents that truly highlight an exquisite level of craftsmanship were the products of Pierre Bonnard and other artists of the Les Nabis movement in France, who were inspired by the introduction of Japanese art aesthetics. In 1939, Maurice Utrillol, who is famous for documenting Parisian scenery, used oil paint to draw famous structures and scenery of Montmartre across four wooden panels, which he then connected to form a beautiful paravent. If one were to say that Utrillol used the ivory white of cobblestones to connect the hills and alleyways of Montmartre, then Buffet used elegant gray tones of Ottoman architecture for impression matched with forceful black lines to connect the skyline and streets of Paris.
Created in 1967, the Paris Scenery series stands 164 cm tall. When opened and spread out, the four panels stretch to a width of 204 cm. A bright silver metal frame connects each panel. Along with the colorful composition, the huge amount of effort and work at the time of production can only be imagined. In perspective, the image extends from the road below to the distance structure in the center. As a result, when a viewer stands in front of the work, it is as if they are walking on the streets of Paris. Located in the highlands of Montmartre, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of the Catholic Church is an eclectic building featuring both Roman and Byzantine styles. The white dome looks like a white dove in the blue sky of Paris, guarding the peace and tranquility of the people. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was completed for the opening of the World Expo Paris. At a height of 312 meters, it was the tallest structure in the world for forty years. After the Louvre, it became the second most visited location in Paris, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the shores of the Seine. In 1523, Saint-Jacques Tower was constructed. Guarding the bustling market streets, the classical Gothic architectural design is a representative landmark of the right bank of Paris.The impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir also used the windmillshaped Moulin de la Galette for his background theme in the famous Bal du moulin de la Galette . After nearly a hundred years, Buffet breathed new life into the mill, further highlighting its representative standing and periodic meaning in art history.
Shinwa Art Auction, Tokyo, January 23, 2010, lot 31
Private collection, Asia (Acquired from the above by the present owner)
ILLUSTRATED:
Charles Sorlier, Bernard Buffet Lithographe, Editions Michel Trinckvel, Paris, 1979, Nos. 116-119, p. 79
Catalogue Note:
An artistic genius of the post-war era, Bernard Buffet had deeply emotional and personal memories of Paris. In 1957 and 1988, he completed a series of oil paintings with the theme of Paris. Before his lithograph screen prints of the Paris Scenery series (1967), Buffet had created two sets of paper lithograph screen prints titled, Annabel Naked Posture and Musical Instrument between 1960 and 1961. Later on, the Paris Scenery series marks the largest scenerythemed lithograph Buffet ever created. They consist of four Paris landmarks: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, Saint-Jacques Tower, Eiffel Tower, and
Moulin de la Galette, which represent architectural styles and historical events from different time periods. With the precise brushstrokes of Buffet, they display a new generation of Parisian landscapes across long and narrow screens, providing viewers a glimpse of urban styles through the eyes of an artistic master.
Paravents are a Chinese invention introduced to Europe in the fifteenth century. During the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries, they became particular popular among European courts. With advancements in construction technology, the features of paravents in spatial furnishings tended to become more decorative and practical in value. In earlier periods, only members of the nobility could afford paravents comprised of fine wood, brass, gold foil, silk, and other precious materials. Gradually, they became more popular among commoners, and these materials became replaced with paper and thin layers of wood. The paravents that truly highlight an exquisite level of craftsmanship were the products of Pierre Bonnard and other artists of the Les Nabis movement in France, who were inspired by the introduction of Japanese art aesthetics. In 1939, Maurice Utrillol, who is famous for documenting Parisian scenery, used oil paint to draw famous structures and scenery of Montmartre across four wooden panels, which he then connected to form a beautiful paravent. If one were to say that Utrillol used the ivory white of cobblestones to connect the hills and alleyways of Montmartre, then Buffet used elegant gray tones of Ottoman architecture for impression matched with forceful black lines to connect the skyline and streets of Paris.
Created in 1967, the Paris Scenery series stands 164 cm tall. When opened and spread out, the four panels stretch to a width of 204 cm. A bright silver metal frame connects each panel. Along with the colorful composition, the huge amount of effort and work at the time of production can only be imagined. In perspective, the image extends from the road below to the distance structure in the center. As a result, when a viewer stands in front of the work, it is as if they are walking on the streets of Paris. Located in the highlands of Montmartre, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of the Catholic Church is an eclectic building featuring both Roman and Byzantine styles. The white dome looks like a white dove in the blue sky of Paris, guarding the peace and tranquility of the people. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was completed for the opening of the World Expo Paris. At a height of 312 meters, it was the tallest structure in the world for forty years. After the Louvre, it became the second most visited location in Paris, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the shores of the Seine. In 1523, Saint-Jacques Tower was constructed. Guarding the bustling market streets, the classical Gothic architectural design is a representative landmark of the right bank of Paris.The impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir also used the windmillshaped Moulin de la Galette for his background theme in the famous Bal du moulin de la Galette . After nearly a hundred years, Buffet breathed new life into the mill, further highlighting its representative standing and periodic meaning in art history.