Dates
Painting
Genres
Other techniques
The circus and the bullfight as metaphors
The circus and the bullfight are among Bernard Buffet's most iconic subjects. In these spaces, where appearances take precedence over reality, he found a powerful metaphor for the facades that shape social relationships.
By depicting his clowns with a melancholic tone, the painter reveals their underlying sadness and underscores the tension between personal authenticity and the pressure to conform to social norms.
Similarly, in Bernard Buffet's portrayal of bullfighters, the collective overshadows the individual. Often shown in homogeneous groups, his matadors appear to submit to conformity. Their impassive expressions reflect the pressure not to reveal any divergent emotions, even in the face of an act as extreme as taking a life.
1m

The Circus
La parade, 1955, 250 x 500 cm
1m

The Circus
Acrobates, 1955, 260 x 295cm
1m

The Circus
Le pied de nez, 1955, 195 x 300 cm
1m

Clown Portraits
Tête de clown (sur fond bleu), 1955, 73 x 60 cm
1m

Clown Portraits
Tête de clown (haut-de-forme sur fond rouge), 1961, 100 x 80 cm
1m

Clown Portraits
Clown à la Cafetière, 1995, 133 x 99 cm
1m

Bullfighting
Essai des capes, 1966, 235 x 580 cm
1m

Bullfighting