PRINTPROVENANCE:
Galerie David et Garnier, Paris
Private collection, circa 1962-2007
Christie's, New York, May 10, 2007, lot 398
Acquired by the present owner from the above
Catalogue Note:
'' La peinture, on n'en parle pas, on ne l'analyse pas, on le sent.'' －Bernard BUFFET
Buffet is known as ''the successor of post-war realism''. Buffet was a talented artist worshiped by Andy Warhol and praised by masters such as Picasso. Driven by natural talent and creative passion, Buffet often worke d day and night; in his unheated studio, relying on natural sunlight through the skylight, he poured his heart into his painting, even in the bitter winter. He wanted his work to be seen by the world. From the ruthlessness and the hardship of war, Buffet’s unique aesthetic evolved.
Buffet made his artistic debut at the Salon des Moins de Trente Ans in 1946, followed by the Société des Artistes Indépendants in 1947. In 1948 he was awarded the ‘Prize for Young Painters’ by the Galerie Drouant-David and the Art Award by the Galerie Saint-Placide. Buffet's talent and skill quickly attracted the attention of many well-known collectors and artists who collected his works and asked for opportunities to collaborate with exhibitions. Among these was art collector Maurice Garnier, with whom Buffet collaborated for over half a century--from the Visconti, David and Garnier galeries at the beginning, to the Maurice Garnier Gallery at the end. Their collaboration was a vital part of Buffet’s artistic career. Every February since 1952, the gallery has had a new exhibition on different subjects; the opening of the exhibition became a time-honored annual event in the Parisian art scene.
Since the 1950s, abstract art has become mainstream. French Minister of Culture André Malraux even publicly stated that the support for abstract art and representational art were outdated expressions of art
that were not worth mentioning. However, the crowds of art lovers queuing up in front of all of Buffet’s exhibitions, along with the ongoing support of collectors, prove that good art cannot be overlooked.
Buffet has even encouraged the public, when engaging with an artistic creation, to experience it directly and with heart, rather than through verbal discussion or analysis. Buffet uses painting to convey the people, things and objects that he felt. His work is not only a record of his life, but also a way of sharing his unique perspectives and observations of society with the world.
Buffet's boundless creativity is comprehensive. In his hands, any medium or theme can be transformed into a representation of Buffet aesthetics. The common element that connects his works is his strong sense of line. From his earliest works, in which fine pencil lines fill the image like static on a black and white TV, to later works, in which his lines gradually deepened and thickened into bold black contours, the linear vertical and horizontal composition remain constant. The German art historian Alexsander Roob stated that Buffet was devoted to line expression; at the same time, his works perfectly combine the Oriental elements of French modernism with the expressive forms of sacred Egyptian texts and the lines of modern print.
Buffet’s theme of choice is often a familiar personage or a painting by an ancient master. He wanted to pay tribute to the masters by copying their paintings, such as Gustave Courbet's Le sommeil or Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, which appear to show a subconscious desire to surpass his predecessors. As an up-and-coming artist, Buffet was also often invited by the literary world to collaborate internationally. In 1957, the Paysages de Paris series inspired the new works of the poetess Louise de Vilmorin; in the same year, he collaborated with the well-known poet Jean Cocteau to illustrate the script for La voix humaine. Following his friend Mr. Pierre Bergé, Buffet travelled to the United States. On his return trip, he stayed in New York for two days and drew many sketches which became part
of his 1959 series New York. The now-famous Buffet was invited to exhibit his works around the world; the geography and scenery he encountered on his travels often became the inspiration for his paintings.
This painting ''Le Port de Beaulieu'' , completed in 1957, is located in the southeast of France at Beaulieu-sur-mer, a small resort between Monaco City and Nice. Named “beautiful dwelling on the sea” in Latin, the area has long been known for its perfect Mediterranean climate. Starting in the 1800s, when the railway network connected the area to nearby cities, it became a resort town where European royalty built luxurious villas. In the picture, the white sails stand tall with their reflections mirrored in the glassy blue sea. A cloudless clear sky borders the harbor, while the pink-orange hues of the brick wall and the green of the distant mountains creates an interesting interplay of color. Tropical plants stand side by side in the foreground, full of energy and vitality. The wide, neat walking path seems to express the languid appeal of a quiet nap on a hot summer day. Featuring similar composition and repeated ocean scenes and elements, these paintings bring the viewers into the painting through clever use of perspective and
layout. The picture seems to show a gentle breeze blowing through the treetops while sailboats float on the abundant sea; the black brush strokes are concise and powerful, suggesting the young painter's mood of pleasure and excitement.
As a child, Buffet spent his summers with his mother in Brittany, on the west coast of France. His lifelong love of nature inspired him to paint coastal scenes and harbors all over France. In an overview of the artist's life-long oeuvre of seascapes, his 1950s works set against the backgrounds of vacation meccas Nice and Cannes in the south of France are the most popular, and are highly sought by private collectors. One of works from the same Beaulieu-sur-mer series sold by 2013 Sotheby's auction in London at a price of US$ 491,437, setted a record for highest auction price to date among Buffet’s seascapes. The steady rise in the sales of Buffet’s works over the years, in line with his increasingly frequent appearance in global auctions, serve to reaffirm Buffet’s unique aesthetics and timeless appeal. As art changes from generation to generation, Buffet is still deeply loved by art collectors and is strongly backed by its competitiveness in the market.
Galerie David et Garnier, Paris
Private collection, circa 1962-2007
Christie's, New York, May 10, 2007, lot 398
Acquired by the present owner from the above
Catalogue Note:
'' La peinture, on n'en parle pas, on ne l'analyse pas, on le sent.'' －Bernard BUFFET
Buffet is known as ''the successor of post-war realism''. Buffet was a talented artist worshiped by Andy Warhol and praised by masters such as Picasso. Driven by natural talent and creative passion, Buffet often worke d day and night; in his unheated studio, relying on natural sunlight through the skylight, he poured his heart into his painting, even in the bitter winter. He wanted his work to be seen by the world. From the ruthlessness and the hardship of war, Buffet’s unique aesthetic evolved.
Buffet made his artistic debut at the Salon des Moins de Trente Ans in 1946, followed by the Société des Artistes Indépendants in 1947. In 1948 he was awarded the ‘Prize for Young Painters’ by the Galerie Drouant-David and the Art Award by the Galerie Saint-Placide. Buffet's talent and skill quickly attracted the attention of many well-known collectors and artists who collected his works and asked for opportunities to collaborate with exhibitions. Among these was art collector Maurice Garnier, with whom Buffet collaborated for over half a century--from the Visconti, David and Garnier galeries at the beginning, to the Maurice Garnier Gallery at the end. Their collaboration was a vital part of Buffet’s artistic career. Every February since 1952, the gallery has had a new exhibition on different subjects; the opening of the exhibition became a time-honored annual event in the Parisian art scene.
Since the 1950s, abstract art has become mainstream. French Minister of Culture André Malraux even publicly stated that the support for abstract art and representational art were outdated expressions of art
that were not worth mentioning. However, the crowds of art lovers queuing up in front of all of Buffet’s exhibitions, along with the ongoing support of collectors, prove that good art cannot be overlooked.
Buffet has even encouraged the public, when engaging with an artistic creation, to experience it directly and with heart, rather than through verbal discussion or analysis. Buffet uses painting to convey the people, things and objects that he felt. His work is not only a record of his life, but also a way of sharing his unique perspectives and observations of society with the world.
Buffet's boundless creativity is comprehensive. In his hands, any medium or theme can be transformed into a representation of Buffet aesthetics. The common element that connects his works is his strong sense of line. From his earliest works, in which fine pencil lines fill the image like static on a black and white TV, to later works, in which his lines gradually deepened and thickened into bold black contours, the linear vertical and horizontal composition remain constant. The German art historian Alexsander Roob stated that Buffet was devoted to line expression; at the same time, his works perfectly combine the Oriental elements of French modernism with the expressive forms of sacred Egyptian texts and the lines of modern print.
Buffet’s theme of choice is often a familiar personage or a painting by an ancient master. He wanted to pay tribute to the masters by copying their paintings, such as Gustave Courbet's Le sommeil or Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, which appear to show a subconscious desire to surpass his predecessors. As an up-and-coming artist, Buffet was also often invited by the literary world to collaborate internationally. In 1957, the Paysages de Paris series inspired the new works of the poetess Louise de Vilmorin; in the same year, he collaborated with the well-known poet Jean Cocteau to illustrate the script for La voix humaine. Following his friend Mr. Pierre Bergé, Buffet travelled to the United States. On his return trip, he stayed in New York for two days and drew many sketches which became part
of his 1959 series New York. The now-famous Buffet was invited to exhibit his works around the world; the geography and scenery he encountered on his travels often became the inspiration for his paintings.
This painting ''Le Port de Beaulieu'' , completed in 1957, is located in the southeast of France at Beaulieu-sur-mer, a small resort between Monaco City and Nice. Named “beautiful dwelling on the sea” in Latin, the area has long been known for its perfect Mediterranean climate. Starting in the 1800s, when the railway network connected the area to nearby cities, it became a resort town where European royalty built luxurious villas. In the picture, the white sails stand tall with their reflections mirrored in the glassy blue sea. A cloudless clear sky borders the harbor, while the pink-orange hues of the brick wall and the green of the distant mountains creates an interesting interplay of color. Tropical plants stand side by side in the foreground, full of energy and vitality. The wide, neat walking path seems to express the languid appeal of a quiet nap on a hot summer day. Featuring similar composition and repeated ocean scenes and elements, these paintings bring the viewers into the painting through clever use of perspective and
layout. The picture seems to show a gentle breeze blowing through the treetops while sailboats float on the abundant sea; the black brush strokes are concise and powerful, suggesting the young painter's mood of pleasure and excitement.
As a child, Buffet spent his summers with his mother in Brittany, on the west coast of France. His lifelong love of nature inspired him to paint coastal scenes and harbors all over France. In an overview of the artist's life-long oeuvre of seascapes, his 1950s works set against the backgrounds of vacation meccas Nice and Cannes in the south of France are the most popular, and are highly sought by private collectors. One of works from the same Beaulieu-sur-mer series sold by 2013 Sotheby's auction in London at a price of US$ 491,437, setted a record for highest auction price to date among Buffet’s seascapes. The steady rise in the sales of Buffet’s works over the years, in line with his increasingly frequent appearance in global auctions, serve to reaffirm Buffet’s unique aesthetics and timeless appeal. As art changes from generation to generation, Buffet is still deeply loved by art collectors and is strongly backed by its competitiveness in the market.