BERNARD BUFFET (Paris 1928–1999 Tourtour) Oldsmobile 1950. 1984. Oil on canvas. Signed upper right: Bernard Buffet. Titled on the reverse: Oldsmobile 1950. 97 × 130 cm. Provenance: - Emmanuel David, Paris, acquired directly from the artist and by descent to the next generation. - Auction Sothebys, London, 23.10.2001, lot 284. - Swiss private collection, acquired at the above auction. Literature: Yann le Pichon and Maurice Garnier: Bernard Buffet 1982–1999, Switzerland 2007, vol. 3, p. 20, no. 930 (with ill.). Bernard Buffets depiction of an Oldsmobile Super 88 belongs to a series of works based on the theme of automobiles. The artist has emblematically staged the utilitarian object and elevated it in its illustrative appearance to the rank of a work of art. The reduction of the vehicle to its essential elements shows a striking closeness to Pop Art, with its focus on the seriality and banality of manufactured products. Given the fact that Buffet himself was unable to drive, the fascination with the "American Dream" in its reduced form seems rather ironic. With his partner, Pierre Bergé, he shared a passion for collecting that was born less of a love of motorsports than of the aesthetics of the objects — initially travelling by bicycle and moped, the couple would soon own a Citro?n CV2, a Jaguar XK120 and a Rolls-Royce. This list in itself is sufficient to provide an idea of the importance of this series in Buffets oeuvre and in his personal life. Thus through his artistic transformation, Buffet has successfully and impressively liberated an everyday object from its mundanity. BERNARD BUFFET (Paris 1928–1999 Tourtour) Oldsmobile 1950. 1984. ?l auf Leinwand. Oben rechts signiert: Bernard Buffet. Verso auf der Leinwand betitelt: Oldsmobile 1950. 97 × 130 cm. Provenienz: - Emmanuel David, Paris, direkt beim Künstler erworben und durch Erbschaft an**n?chste Generation. - Auktion Sothebys, London, 23.10.2001, Los 284. - Schweizer Privatsammlung, an obiger Auktion erworben. Literatur: Yann le Pichon und Maurice Garnier: Bernard Buffet 1982–1999, Schweiz 2007, Bd. 3, S. 20, Nr. 930 (mit Farbabb.). Bernard Buffets Darstellung eines Oldsmobile Super 88 geh?rt in eine Reihe von Werken, welche Automobile zum Thema haben. Fast emblematisch setzt der Künstler den Gebrauchsgegenstand in Szene und erhebt ihn in seiner illustrativen Erscheinung zum Kunstwerk. Im Rahmen dieser Auseinandersetzung findet sich in der Reduktion auf**wesentlichen Elemente des Fahrzeuges eine überraschende N?he zur Pop-Art, welche Serialit?t und Banalit?t industrieller Erzeugnisse in das Zentrum der Werke stellt. Vor dem Hintergrund, dass Buffet selbst nicht fahren konnte, erscheint**Faszination des ?American Dreams“ in seiner reduzierten Form geradezu ironisch. Mit seinem Lebensabschnittspartner Pierre Bergé verband ihn eine Sammelleidenschaft,**weniger von der Liebe zum Motorsport, sondern von der ?sthetik des Produktes getragen war: Zun?chst mit Fahrrad und Moped unterwegs, wird das Paar schon früh einen Citro?nCV2, einen Jaguar XK120 und einen Rolls-Royce besitzen. Diese Liste allein genügt schon, um sich eine Vorstellung davon machen zu k?nnen, welchen Stellenwert diese Serie in Buffets Schaffen und privatem Leben hat. Buffet gelingt es daher eindrücklich, ein Alltagsprodukt mittels künstlerischer Umsetzung aus seinem profanen Bereich zu l?sen.
Koller will assist in arranging shipping. All costs associated are the responsibility of the buyer.
Contract: Your Bid is a binding and legally enforcable contract.
Payment: Koller accepts only bank transfer for payment. Payment is due upon the close of the auction.
Shipping Terms: Koller will assist in arranging shipping. All costs associated are the responsibility of the buyer.
Buyer's Premium: 2.1 In addition to the bid price, the Purchaser must pay a surcharge of 25 % on such bid price.
2.2 If the winning bid is placed in the course of an internet live online auction ("Online Auction"), the surcharges are subject to the conditions published on the respective Internet sites.
2.3 The Purchaser must pay Swiss value added tax ("VAT") on the surcharge. The stated percentage of the surcharge relates to the successful bid for each individual item.
2.4 The full tax is charged on all items marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.
2.5 The Purchaser agrees that Koller also receives a commission from the Seller.
Taxes: The Purchaser must pay Swiss value added tax ("VAT") on the surcharge. The stated percentage of the surcharge relates to the successful bid for each individual item.
Condition Reports: 3.1 The items are auctioned in the condition existing at the time of the successful bid.
3.2 The items are described to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, Koller cannot accept any liability for the details provided in the catalogue. The items can be inspected during the preview. The Purchaser is therefore invited to inspect an item prior to the auction and, possibly with the support of an independent specialist advisor, to form its own opinion of the correspondence between the lot and the catalogue description. For the specifications of the items the print edition of the catalogue in the German language (including any later amendments) shall be exclusively applicable. Koller reserves the right to call in experts or specialists of its choice to give an opinion and to rely upon that opinion. Koller cannot be held liable for the correctness of such opinions. Neither any such expert opinions or reports, nor the descriptions of items provided by Koller or other statements pertaining to an item (including statements pertaining to the value thereof) constitute explicit or implicit warranties.
3.3 Subject to Clause 4 below, no guarantee or warranty whatsoever is given in respect of legal and material defects. The liabilities of the Seller vis-à-vis the Purchaser are limited to the same extent as the liabilities of Koller vis-à-vis the Purchaser.
