Bernard Buffet, (1928 – 1999), Nature Morte au pot de Jacinthe (P.B. Amour), 1956 oil on canvas 65 x 46 cm signed and dated upper left: "Bernard Buffet 1956", the painting also includes personal dedication to the painter’s friend Pierre Bergé: (P.B. Amour) verso old exhibition label Provenance: - collection of Pierre Bergé (1930-2017), an important French industrialist, collector and supporter of arts. He was a close friend of Bernard Buffet (1950-1958) and since 19658 a business and life partner of the famous fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent - private collection, Paris The famous and adored Bernard Buffet was highly unconventional and stood out from the moment he entered the postwar artistic scene in Paris, when he immediately attracted much attention and stirred much discussion. His depictions of the postwar anxiety and emptiness with bold black lines and muted colours intrigued audiences worldwide. Buffet’s austere vision was a perfect match for the atmosphere of postward alienation as captured in the popular existentialist philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre. He dedicated his entire life to painting and his unique handiwork soon became easily recognisable and famous, making Buffet an international superstar comparable to Picasso at the height of his career. Nowadays, his work is again (and rightfully so) enjoying much attention and popularity. Bernard Buffet was born in Paris in 1928, studied art at E?cole Nationale Supe?rieure des Beaux-Arts between 1934 and 1945 and subsequently independently exhibited, receiving the support of the writer Pierre Descar- guese. He started to exclusively work with the art dealer Maurice Garnier and was awarded the First Prize by magazine Connaissance des Arts in 1955. He was only thirty years old when his first retrospective was staged by Galeria Charpentier. Buffet was a member of the Parisian art collective L ?homme Te?moin, where the artist fervently fought against new and unclear forms of abstract art. Buffet’s work is a unique showcase of expressionist figures, the Passion of Jesus, and still lifes, tackling human sexuality, subcultures, death, as well as current affairs. Buffet’s partner and lover was the art collector and industrialist Pierre Berge?, co-founder of the iconic fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. The painting Nature morte au pot de jacinthe (P. B. Amour) Paris is dedicated to him. Berge? recognised Buffet’s talent and supported the young artist, introducing him to the influential Parisian high society. Their love affair ended when Berge? left Buffet for the now famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. In 1961 Berge? a Laurent opened Yves Saint Laurent Couture House and launched one of the famous fashion brands of all time – Yves Saint Laurent. Buffet married the writer and actress Annabel Schwob in 1958. In mid-1950s, Buffet’s work was frequently exhibited in Japan, where its use of strong black lines strongly resonated with the young Japanese artists. Contemporary Japanese art is still clearly indebted to Buffet’s presence and influence. In 1973, the art collector Kiichiro Okano opened The Bernard Buffet Museum in Surugadaira, Japan. Buffet enjoyed creating still lifes, which also acted as his own self-portraits, reflecting his character, and current state of mind. The intriguing oil on canvas Nature morte au pot de jacinthe (P. B. Amour) Paris is an excellent example of his unique technique and recognisable style. He constructed an internal world using everyday ob- jects, including kitchen utensils, glasses or plates. Buffet’s work contributed to how the public perceived the postwar world in France. During his lifetime, he earned popularity and recognition worldwide, with his supporters including Georges Simenon and Ella Fitzgerald. Buffet committed suicide at the age of 71 in 1999, after lenghty suffering from Parkinson’s disease. His work is featured in numerous prestigious private and public art collections and galleries worldwide, including Centre Georges Pompidou, The National Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Modern Art New York, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Washington, Tate Gallery in London, and Bernard Buffet Museum Surugadaira in Japan. An authenticity certificate by Maurice Garnier Gallery, Paris attached. Consulted with Professor Jaromir Zemina, Dr Karel Srp, Dr Jiri Machalicky, Aneta Kopecka and Vladimir Lekes. Auction, Prague, Czech Republic.