This is a work that is unmistakably by Bernard Buffet. His work is distinctive no matter if the subject is architecture, human figure, or, as in this case, an animal. The work is titled Cheval Cabré which translates to Prancing Horse. It was issued by Mourlot in 1970 in an edition of 120. The image uses the heavy black lines that Buffet favored to define his images. The color palette is quite limited, brown for the body of the horse, brownish-orange for the ground, and peach for the background, which is presumably the sky at dawn or dusk. The horse is rearing on its hind legs. The facial expression, somewhat unusually for Buffet, is neutral. The image is instantaneously recognizable as by Buffet.
The piece is in excellent condition. The colors are vivid without fading. There is no loss, discoloration, or foxing. There is a hint of toning at the periphery of the paper well away from the image. There is hinge tape verso in the center of each edge. This is number 26 of the edition of 120 indicated in pencil lower left. It it signed by Buffet in ink lower left (he frequently used ink rather than pencil). An excellent example of his work.
Bernard Buffet (1928-1999)
Bernard Buffet is one of the best known of French modernists. He was born in Paris, entered the the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts at age 15 spending two years there after which he set out on his own. His first exhibition was in 1947 and a piece from that exhibit was purchased for the Paris Museum of Modern Art. He won a prestigious award by the time he was 20 years old. He became extremely popular with collectors but was increasingly estranged from the art establishment of France (which is traditionally very conservative).
Buffet was extremely prolific producing over 8000 paintings and original prints. Technically he is a realist in that his works are representational (still life, architecture, figural) rather than abstract, but he captures much of the energy and apparent haphazardness of the abstract expressionists. His work is instantly recognizable and remains highly collectible. He committed suicide in 1999.