Woman IV (1960) by Francis Bacon

Woman IV - Francis Bacon - 1960

Artwork Information

TitleWoman IV
ArtistFrancis Bacon
Date1960
Art MovementExpressionism

About Woman IV

The artwork titled “Woman IV” is a creation of the artist Francis Bacon, completed in the year 1960. It falls within the Expressionism movement, characterized by its capacity to convey emotional experience over physical reality. Specifically, “Woman IV” is a portrait; however, it departs from traditional portraiture by illustrating the subject in a manner that emphasizes the emotional and psychological over the verisimilar.

The artwork demonstrates Bacon’s renowned style, which often features distorted, anguished figures set against flat, nondescript backgrounds. The figure in “Woman IV” appears to be seated against a dark, muted backdrop, with just the hint of a horizon line suggesting a division between the earthly and the ethereal or unknown. The sitter, cloaked in what seems to be a white garment, has a face that is smeared and blurred, articulating a sense of movement or inner turmoil. The colors are both muted and vivid, with the flesh tones and whites creating a stark, visceral contrast to the abyss-like background. This piece resonates with the tension and existential anxiety that are hallmarks of Bacon’s work, and it invites viewers to engage with the complex emotional landscape it presents.

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