“Study from the Human Body,” a 1986 work by Francis Bacon, stands as a compelling piece of Expressionist art rendered in oil and pastel on canvas. This figurative painting, measuring 198 by 147 centimeters, resides in a private collection.
The artwork features a solitary, distorted human figure within an abstracted geometric space dominated by a vivid yellow backdrop. The figure is predominantly dark and amorphous, engaging in a seated or kneeling position, with certain anatomical outlines subtly suggested through Bacon’s characteristic painterly techniques. A stark, arrow-like shape intersects the upper region of the figure, introducing a dynamic contrast against the overall sombre form. This ambiguous yet impactful portrayal emphasizes the grotesque beauty and emotional intensity typical of Bacon’s oeuvre. The geometric enclosure, referencing a space that neither confines nor defines the figure entirely, enhances the sense of existential isolation prevalent in his expression of the human condition.