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Artworks
Francis Bacon
after portrait of Michel Leiris, (1976), 1990
Lithograph on Arches paper
Sheet: 48 × 35.7 cm. 19 x 14 in.
Image: 24.8 x 21.2 cm. 9 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Image: 24.8 x 21.2 cm. 9 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Edition of 150 (plus proofs)
Signed in pencil lower right
£16,000 GBP
Further images
Edition of 150, 5 H.C. (Hors Commerce). The numbering is only on the colophon of Miroir de la Tauromachie with Arabic numbering. The 5 H.C. with Roman numbering. Each lithograph...
Edition of 150, 5 H.C. (Hors Commerce). The numbering is only on the colophon of Miroir de la Tauromachie with Arabic numbering. The 5 H.C. with Roman numbering. Each lithograph is not therefore numbered individually, however, each sheet is individually signed. Inspired by the painting of the same title in the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
Francis Bacon's Portrait of Michel Leiris (1976-1978) is a compelling example of Bacon’s complex approach to portraiture. Blending the personal and philosophical, Bacon was fascinated by the human condition, especially the fragility and violence of existence. This portrait of Michel Leiris, a French writer, ethnographer, and confidant of Bacon, is no exception to his existential oeuvre. This print is filled with psychological intensity, as Leiris’ face is smeared and disfigured through dynamic swirls of paint, implying a deeper emotional or existential struggle, as though the subject's identity is in a state of flux. This sense of dehumanisation reflects Leiris' own existential concerns, as his writings often delved into themes of mortality, fear, and the breakdown of self. This haunting print exemplifies Bacon’s ability to blend personal emotion with universal philosophies and fears surrounding identity, mortality and the human condition, resulting in a portrait that is as unsettling as it is profound.
For further information on the original painting please visit the Francis Bacon Estate page: https://www.francis-bacon.com/artworks/paintings/portrait-michel-leiris
Francis Bacon's Portrait of Michel Leiris (1976-1978) is a compelling example of Bacon’s complex approach to portraiture. Blending the personal and philosophical, Bacon was fascinated by the human condition, especially the fragility and violence of existence. This portrait of Michel Leiris, a French writer, ethnographer, and confidant of Bacon, is no exception to his existential oeuvre. This print is filled with psychological intensity, as Leiris’ face is smeared and disfigured through dynamic swirls of paint, implying a deeper emotional or existential struggle, as though the subject's identity is in a state of flux. This sense of dehumanisation reflects Leiris' own existential concerns, as his writings often delved into themes of mortality, fear, and the breakdown of self. This haunting print exemplifies Bacon’s ability to blend personal emotion with universal philosophies and fears surrounding identity, mortality and the human condition, resulting in a portrait that is as unsettling as it is profound.
For further information on the original painting please visit the Francis Bacon Estate page: https://www.francis-bacon.com/artworks/paintings/portrait-michel-leiris
Provenance
Published by the Galerie Lelong, Paris, and printed by Mourlot, ParisPublications
Bruno Sabatier, Francis Bacon, The Graphic Work, no. 30Alexandre Tacou, Francis Bacon, Estampes, no. 37
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