The artwork, titled “Three Studies for a Portrait,” was created by Francis Bacon in 1977. This piece belongs to the movement of Expressionism and falls under the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork comprises three distinct panels, each depicting a portrait rendered in an abstract and distorted manner, characteristic of Bacon’s style. Each panel shows a profile or frontal view of a face, revealing a raw, emotive energy and intense psychological expression. The figures are presented with a mixture of dark and light hues that blend and clash, creating a sense of fragmented reality. The ambiguity and intensity of the expressions capture the viewer’s attention, generating a poignant reflection on the human condition. The use of varying textures and colors adds depth to the portraits, enhancing the overall impact of the piece.