Deux hommes nus 1947

Bernard Buffet, a French artist who lived from 1928 to 1999, painted "Deux hommes nus," or "Two Nude Men." Buffet's work often captures a sense of postwar alienation. The gaunt figures depicted here, with their stark outlines, embody a certain austerity. The artist lived through the Nazi occupation of France. His work bears traces of the existential anxieties of this period in European history. Note the emotional tension between the two figures. One is seated, looking out, while the other stands with his back turned. The intimacy of the nude male form is presented without romanticism; instead, it suggests vulnerability and introspection. Buffet himself was openly gay at a time when it was not socially acceptable. His work provides a window into the lived experiences and representation of queer identity during the mid-20th century. Through these figures, Buffet explores themes of identity, exposure, and the search for meaning in a world marked by trauma.