estateRUTH.

Identification

Attributed to Bernard Buffet, Expressionist Insect Painting

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The artwork exhibits the harsh, angular black outlines and stylized forms characteristic of Bernard Buffet's Expressionist style. The seller claims it is an original oil painting.

Story

Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) was a highly prolific French Expressionist painter known for his distinctive, angular style and heavy black outlines. The seller claims this is an original oil painting, but no historical documentation, gallery labels, or prior ownership records have been provided to support this attribution. Bernard Buffet's market has seen a strong resurgence, particularly for his stark, expressionist works from the 1950s and 1960s.

Maker / Origin

Unattributed

Condition & Value

Based solely on the single provided image, the artwork appears to be framed and matted, a presentation style more commonly associated with works on paper (like lithographs) than oil on canvas. No surface defects, tears, or restorations are visible in the low-resolution photo.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

Bernard Buffet's market has seen a strong resurgence, particularly for his stark, expressionist works from the 1950s and 1960s. Authenticated original oils command significant premiums at major auction houses, often exceeding $50,000. However, the market is also heavily populated with his lithographs (especially the 'Les Insectes' portfolio) and decorative prints, which trade frequently in the mid-hundreds to low-thousands. Buyers require absolute certainty of medium and provenance before committing to original-painting prices.

Value Drivers

▲ Stylistic match to Bernard Buffet's highly sought-after Expressionist insect motifs.

▲ Seller claims the medium is original oil, which carries the highest market premium for this artist.

Concerns

▼ Unverified medium — if this is a lithograph rather than an oil painting, the value drops to the $500-$2,000 range.

▼ Unverified signature — pending a clear close-up, the inability to authenticate the artist's hand prevents high-end valuation.

▼ Missing provenance — lack of gallery labels or exhibition history severely limits buyer confidence for high-value art.

▼ Matted presentation — typical for prints on paper, raising the risk that this is not an oil on canvas.

Best Venue

Do not list this item for sale until its medium and authenticity are definitively established. Take the artwork to a qualified fine art appraiser or a major auction house for an in-person inspection. If confirmed as an original oil, it should be consigned to a premier Post-War & Contemporary Art auction; if confirmed as a lithograph, it can be sold through mid-tier online art platforms.

Upside Potential

If an in-person inspection confirms this is an authentic, original oil painting by Bernard Buffet, and it is subsequently certified by the recognized authority for his work, the value would immediately shift to the $50,000–$190,000+ tier seen in the Christie's comparables.

Authenticity Risk

high

Bernard Buffet is a heavily reproduced artist, and his 1964 'Les Insectes' lithograph series makes the risk of a print being misidentified as an original painting extremely high. The provided photo is too low-resolution to confirm the presence of actual oil paint, brushstrokes, or the fluidity of an authentic signature. Authentication by a recognized Buffet expert is strictly required before any high-value sale.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 12 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • MutualArt· 2022-05-10
    Scarabée, 1963
    Link could not be verified.
    $30,000
  • 1stDibs
    Mosquito - Original Lithograph from "Les Insectes", by B. Buffet - 1967
    Lithograph, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $4,024
  • HAMMERSITE
    Lot 174 - Attributed to Bernard Buffet (1928-1999), 'Boats', France
    Pencil on paper of boats; wrong medium and subject matter.
    $4,000
  • Le Coin des Arts
    Engraving Brown bug by BUFFET Bernard
    Engraving, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $2,200
  • Wright Auction· 2021-06-17
    100: BERNARD BUFFET, Le Lucane
    Price and title indicate this is a lithograph from his insect series, not an original painting.
    $1,500
  • MutualArt· 2019-04-29
    Insects Locust and Grasshopper
    Excerpt indicates this is from the Prints & Graphic Art category, not an oil painting.
    $870
  • Bonhams· 2024-12-17
    Bernard Buffet (1928-1999); Le Papillon Rouge et Jaune
    Price indicates this is a print/lithograph, not an original oil painting.
    $640
  • SALORGES ENCHERES· 2021-07-24
    BUFFET Bernard 1928-1999 Le scarabée Lithographie en couleurs
    Lithograph, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $600
  • Etsy
    1967 Bernard BUFFET Color Lithograph 'Yellow and Black Wasp'
    Lithograph, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $186
  • TGP Auction· 2024-11-10
    Bernard BUFFET (1928-1999) Insects, 1967 10 Lithographs
    Lithographs, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $150
  • Art.Paris
    Bernard BUFFET: Insects, 10 Lithographs, 1967
    Lithographs, whereas the subject is an oil painting.
    $129
  • eBay
    MCM Wood Velvet Framed Bernard Buffet 'Papillon, 1959' Les Editions Braun Paris
    Print edition (Les Editions Braun), not an original oil painting.
    $80