The circus and the bullfight: a metaphor
The circus and the bullfight are among Bernard Buffet's most emblematic subjects. The world of spectacle, where appearances take precedence over reality, proves to be a particularly fitting metaphor for illustrating the façades that govern social relationships.
By depicting his clowns with a melancholic tone, the painter reveals their underlying sadness and highlights the tension between individual authenticity and the necessity of conforming to social norms.
Similarly, with Bernard Buffet's bullfighters, the group prevails over the individual. Often portrayed in homogeneous groups, his matadors appear to submit to conformity. Their impassive expressions reflect the pressure placed on the individual not to show any divergent emotions, even in the face of an act as extreme as taking a life.