Francis Bacon was a Irish artist known for his expressionistic and surrealistic paintings, which presents disturbing, creepy or even traumatising images of unnatural facial expressions, human bodies, and postures. The most iconic painting of him is „Screaming Pope” (a recreation of Diego Velazquez’s painting “Pope Innocent X” 1650). Many of his works telling the stories from his childhood, show feelings or events.
In 1953 Francis Bacon painted one of his most iconic painting called 'Screaming Popes' being one of the paintings of 'The Papal Portraits' series. The painting presents Pope Innocent X with twisted facial features and an expression of agony.The face in Head VI series and Screaming pope were influenced by the movie Battleship Potemkin from 1925. Bacon’s painting became controversial in some societies as the main form of this painting presents a religious authority. In creating this work, Francis Bacon used a many techniques such as Layering, Scumbling or Glazing. Presenting inside pain and suffering boiling inside Bacon.
The second piece of Bacon is ‘Painting 1946’ painted immediate aftermath of World War II, Presenting people in a post-war existence and showing how the war influenced on their physical and mental health. In creating this piece, Francis Bacon used a load of techniques such as tenebrism, smudging or textural effects using a palette knife to create a rough, textured surface in the background of the work.
Artist research about Francis Bacon made me think about creating more disturbing work based on existing paintings form the renaissance. I want to use the same or similar colour pallets, including some of the elements that would suit to the expressionism. In my final outcome, I will implement Bacon's techniques making them more disturbing and terrifying than the original. Also, I want to focus more on visual aspect of my work than the meaning, as in this project, it might suit better.
White, K. (2022) Francis Bacon's 'screaming pope' embodied postwar anguish-here are 3 surprising facts about the influential painting, Artnet News. Available at: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/francis-bacon-head-royal-academy-2064391 (Accessed: April 25, 2023).
Phaidon (no date) The truth behind Francis Bacon's 'screaming' popes, PHAIDON. Available at: https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2013/february/08/the-truth-behind-francis-bacons-screaming-popes/ (Accessed: April 25, 2023).
One of Francis Bacon's 'screaming popes' to be auctioned in New York (2019) The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/mar/29/francis-bacon-screaming-pope-auction-new-york-study-head (Accessed: April 25, 2023).
YouTube, YouTube, 7 Jan. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fAIFVYUuKo. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.
Good post, Michal, a much better approach to artist research this term. You made some interesting comments about Bacon's work and how you can use his palette and atmosphere in your work - looking forward to seeing what you do with these ideas in the coming weeks. Keep it up!
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