Francis BACON
English born Ireland 1909-1992
Study from the human body
1949
oil on canvas
147.0 x 134.2 cm
Purchased 1953
2992-4

This is Bacon’s earliest known painting of a nude and is remarkable in pointing to themes which dominated his career, mainly the examination of the human figure treated in an ambiguous and enigmatic manner.

The power of this work is derived from the treatment of the figure, which is monumental and well muscled, yet we can see the spine protruding from the flesh. The technique and composition are minimalised to create a general yet powerful realisation of the human form.

Bacon commented that his works did not have a narrative content or meaning, but were purely visual statements. He aimed to make the viewer uneasy with his imagery by peeling back superficial likeness, reducing figures to the bare essentials in order to expose human physical and psychological frailty. This theme is one which Bacon constantly returned to and makes his work challenging to the viewer.