Although Bernède's work bears obvious similarities to that of Franz Kline, he was never an imitator, for with Matisse as a starting point, his style evolved instinctively through disciplined research and progress, as his artistic development over the years testifies. Bernède first turned to Lyrical Abstraction during the early 1960s. Yet, in his continuous search to express the essence of life, to establish an analogy to musical rhythm and to touch the viewer deep into the subconscious mind, Bernède gradually grew to gestural painting, partnered with a largely black and white palette. Whilst being deceptively subtle, these paintings have a dynamic, spontaneous and dramatic impact through the energetic application of the paint.