The artwork, titled “Triptych August 1972,” is a figurative painting created in 1972 by the renowned artist Francis Bacon. This piece is part of Bacon’s “Black Triptychs” series and is representative of the Expressionism art movement.
In the artwork, there are three separate panels, each depicting distorted and contorted human figures in an unsettling and emotive style. The figures exhibit a raw intensity, with exaggerated anatomical forms that express a deep sense of anguish and existential despair. Against a stark black backdrop, each figure is set within a minimalist space, seated on wooden chairs, and surrounded by an air of desolation. The central panel diverges slightly as it shows a melted, almost liquid form, implying a breakdown or dissolution. The pale-toned background contrasts sharply with the dark void behind, further emphasizing the figures’ isolation and alienation. The use of vivid yet sombre colors and dynamic distortions underscores Bacon’s signature approach to capturing the human condition’s vulnerability and torment.