“Nothing to smile about … Study of the Human Head,” 1953. Photograph: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd/© The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved. DACS 2024. Private Collection
The world of Francis Bacon is one of intensity, distortion, and raw emotion. A new exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery, “Francis Bacon: Portraits,” highlights the artist’s intense exploration of the human figure. Featuring a selection of portraits from across Bacon’s career, the show examines his distinctive approach to portraying his closest friends, lovers, and contemporaries. His use of distorted forms and unsettling color palettes draws out the psychological depth of each subject, pushing the boundaries of traditional portraiture.
Key works include intimate studies of George Dyer, Bacon’s longtime partner, alongside portraits of figures such as Henrietta Moraes and Lucian Freud. Through these paintings, Bacon strips away the exterior to reveal the vulnerability and raw emotion beneath. This exhibition offers a rare chance to experience the brutal honesty of Bacon’s work up close, now on view at the National Portrait Gallery.