Bernard Dufour
Encyclopedia
Bernard Dufour is a French
painter
. He was notable for abstract painting after the Second World War, and later for portraits and human figures.
. During the Occupation, he was pressed into war labour. He was sent to Germany
with Alain Robbe-Grillet
and there they met Claude Ollier
. In the winter of 1944–45 he went to the University of Heidelberg and studied Eugène Delacroix
and Stéphane Mallarmé
. After the war he copied works of Michelangelo
and Tintoretto
in the Louvre.
His first solo exhibition was at the Galerie Maeght in 1948, followed by exhibitions in the Jeanne Bucher gallery between 1951 and 1953. Motivated by these successes he soon signed an exclusive contract with the art dealer Pierre Loeb. He collaborated with many writers, including René de Solier, André Pieyre de Mandiargues
, Georges Lambrichs, Paule Thévenin and Alain Jouffroy
. In the later fifties, he began to attract attention outside France; in 1959, he participated in the second documenta
exhibition in Kassel
.
From 1960 he turned from abstract to figurative painting; initially self-portraits and mournful figures, later scandalous nudes. In 1961 he opened a studio in an old mill on the Aveyron River
in Foissac
, where he also lived. He took part in the Venice Biennale
in 1964. From this time he formed lasting friendships with other writers of the literary avant-garde, such as Pierre Guyotat
, Denis Roche, Catherine Millet
and Jacques Henric. Since the 1970s he worked in photography
as well as painting, and written several volumes of artistic notes and memoirs.
La Belle Noiseuse
, Jacques Rivette
's 1991 film about an eldely artist, was partly inspired by Dufour, who was credited as "the hand of the artist" painting the picture at the heart of the film. In 1995, Dufour's wife Martine died of cancer. Dufour lives in Villeneuve
and continues to work.
components. The models in his paintings are often in the company of the painter. This visible relationship with the model brings the viewer of his pictures into a voyeur position. The blending of love and death has been a theme, as in a large (2.76 × 5.05 m) 1975 canvas depicting the autopsied
body of Red Army Faction
militant Holger Meins
juxtaposed with Dufour's nude wife Martine defecating.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He was notable for abstract painting after the Second World War, and later for portraits and human figures.
Life
Dufour originally studied agricultural engineeringAgricultural engineering
Agricultural engineering is the engineering discipline that applies engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing...
. During the Occupation, he was pressed into war labour. He was sent to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with Alain Robbe-Grillet
Alain Robbe-Grillet
Alain Robbe-Grillet , was a French writer and filmmaker. He was, along with Nathalie Sarraute, Michel Butor and Claude Simon, one of the figures most associated with the Nouveau Roman trend. Alain Robbe-Grillet was elected a member of the Académie française on March 25, 2004, succeeding Maurice...
and there they met Claude Ollier
Claude Ollier
Claude Ollier is a French writer closely associated with Alain Robbe-Grillet and the nouveau roman literary movement. He was the first winner of the Prix Médicis which he received for his novel La Mise en scène.-Works:...
. In the winter of 1944–45 he went to the University of Heidelberg and studied Eugène Delacroix
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
and Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé , whose real name was Étienne Mallarmé, was a French poet and critic. He was a major French symbolist poet, and his work anticipated and inspired several revolutionary artistic schools of the early 20th century, such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism.-Biography:Stéphane...
. After the war he copied works of Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
and Tintoretto
Tintoretto
Tintoretto , real name Jacopo Comin, was a Venetian painter and a notable exponent of the Renaissance school. For his phenomenal energy in painting he was termed Il Furioso...
in the Louvre.
His first solo exhibition was at the Galerie Maeght in 1948, followed by exhibitions in the Jeanne Bucher gallery between 1951 and 1953. Motivated by these successes he soon signed an exclusive contract with the art dealer Pierre Loeb. He collaborated with many writers, including René de Solier, André Pieyre de Mandiargues
André Pieyre de Mandiargues
André Pieyre de Mandiargues was a French writer born in Paris. He became an associate of the Surrealists and married the Italian painter Bona Tibertelli de Pisis...
, Georges Lambrichs, Paule Thévenin and Alain Jouffroy
Alain Jouffroy
Alain Jouffroy, born on September 11, 1928 near Parc Montsouris, Paris, is a French writer, poet and artist.He was the first advocate of an Art Strike and formed the Union of Writers during the strikes of May 1968 in France with Jean-Pierre Faye...
. In the later fifties, he began to attract attention outside France; in 1959, he participated in the second documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
exhibition in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
.
From 1960 he turned from abstract to figurative painting; initially self-portraits and mournful figures, later scandalous nudes. In 1961 he opened a studio in an old mill on the Aveyron River
Aveyron River
The Aveyron is a 291 km long river in southern France, right tributary of the Tarn River. It rises in the southern Massif Central, near Sévérac-le-Château....
in Foissac
Foissac
Foissac is the name of 2 communes in France:* Foissac, in the Aveyron department* Foissac, in the Gard department...
, where he also lived. He took part in the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1964. From this time he formed lasting friendships with other writers of the literary avant-garde, such as Pierre Guyotat
Pierre Guyotat
Pierre Guyotat is a French writer. He was born on January 9, 1940 at Bourg-Argental, Loire.- Biography :In 1960, Guyotat wrote his first novel, Sur un cheval. He was called to Algeria in the same year. In 1962 he was found guilty of desertion and publishing forbidden material. After three months...
, Denis Roche, Catherine Millet
Catherine Millet
Catherine Millet is a French writer, art critic, curator, and founder and editor of the magazine Art Press, which focuses on modern art and contemporary art....
and Jacques Henric. Since the 1970s he worked in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
as well as painting, and written several volumes of artistic notes and memoirs.
La Belle Noiseuse
La Belle Noiseuse
La Belle Noiseuse is a 1991 film directed by Jacques Rivette and starring Michel Piccoli, Jane Birkin, and Emmanuelle Béart. Its title means "The Beautiful Troublemaker"...
, Jacques Rivette
Jacques Rivette
Jacques Rivette is a French film director. His most well known films include Celine and Julie Go Boating, La Belle Noiseuse and the cult film Out 1....
's 1991 film about an eldely artist, was partly inspired by Dufour, who was credited as "the hand of the artist" painting the picture at the heart of the film. In 1995, Dufour's wife Martine died of cancer. Dufour lives in Villeneuve
Villeneuve
-People:*Andrew Villeneuve, founder and executive director the Northwest Progressive Institute in the U.S.*Annie Villeneuve , Singer from Quebec, Canada*Denis Villeneuve , film director...
and continues to work.
Work
Dufour's representational art has often eroticEroticism
Eroticism is generally understood to refer to a state of sexual arousal or anticipation of such – an insistent sexual impulse, desire, or pattern of thoughts, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality and romantic love...
components. The models in his paintings are often in the company of the painter. This visible relationship with the model brings the viewer of his pictures into a voyeur position. The blending of love and death has been a theme, as in a large (2.76 × 5.05 m) 1975 canvas depicting the autopsied
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
body of Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
militant Holger Meins
Holger Meins
Holger Klaus Meins was a German cinematography student who joined the Red Army Faction in the early 1970s and died on hunger strike in prison.-As a Revolutionary:...
juxtaposed with Dufour's nude wife Martine defecating.