“Infinite Jester” at Sotheby’s S2 gallery in Hong Kong is a selling exhibition of works by French artist Bernard Buffet (1928–1999) who is best known as an outspoken practitioner and advocate of figurative painting whose prolific output made him a millionaire by age 20.Buffet’s expansive oeuvre is dominates by contemporary yet macabre scenes rendered in the artist’s strongly expressive signature style with its characteristic restrained use of muted colours and dramatically emphasized black lines.The selection of fourteen oil paintings and works on paper in “Infinite Jester” date from the 1950s to the late 1990 and includes examples from every major period of his career, with a focus on his series of iconic imagery including still lives, animals, clowns, and leisure scenes.Scott Niichel, Vice President, Impressionist & Modern Art, Sotheby’s New York, said that the market for Buffet’s work has experienced steady growth in years and has attracted attention from private collectors around the world.“The resurgence of interest spans not only the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Japan – the traditional market centres for Buffet – but also many new countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, most notably including China,” said Niichel.Highlights of the exhibition include the artist’s “La Mort 8” 1999, from his final series of works before his suicide; a painting of a rooster titled “Le Coq Rouge” 1959; his 1988 window view of the Eiffel Tower, “Tour Eiffel,” and “Hibou” 1963, which depicts an owl on a tree branch.The full catalogue of works can be viewed here.Click the slideshow to see highlights from the exhibition.
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