Francis Bacon Triptych 1991 For Sale

Triptych 1991 (Right Panel) reflects Bacon’s fascination with the body, as it combines human elements in a fragmented, almost surreal manner. Based on the oil and linen painting (the final triptych of his career) which now hangs at MOMA in New York, the dominant feature of the work is a disjointed human leg, which appears muscular and raw, emerging out of an otherwise abstract background. The leg stands alone, as if disconnected from the rest of the body, symbolising both autonomy and alienation. This severed limb, with its eerie realism, suggests the vulnerability of the human condition, where parts of the body are isolated from the whole, emphasising the fragility and incompleteness of human existence.

Above the leg, a monochromatic human face peers out from a square frame, evoking the feeling of being boxed in or trapped within the confines of one’s own identity. The face appears emotionless, ghostly, as if the individual’s humanity has been stripped away or reduced to a mere mask. This detachment between the human face and body suggests a disconnection between mind and flesh, possibly exploring themes of depersonalization, existential crisis, and the alienation of self. The black square from which the face emerges could symbolise the void or abyss, offering a stark contrast to the organic, vulnerable flesh below.

Across his career Bacon often explored the fragility of the human body, reducing it to a visceral representation of raw flesh, bone, and sinew, while delving deep into the vulnerability and existential struggles of being human.

His interest in anatomy was heavily influenced by medical imagery, such as X-rays, medical textbooks, and even surgical photographs, which often laid bare the mechanics of the body. His frequent depictions of disfigured, distorted, and fractured bodies reveal an obsession not just with how the body functions, but how it can break down, decay, and disintegrate. This focus on corporeal degradation evokes themes of suffering, mortality, and the primal conditions of existence, making his works both disturbing and deeply human.

Bacon’s use of abstraction, particularly in the stark and empty background, highlights the isolation of the fragmented human elements. The black square, acting as a backdrop, could also be interpreted as a representation of the unknown or the unconscious mind, where the body is laid bare and deconstructed. The bare leg and the disembodied face seem to float within a space that is at once confined and expansive, reflecting the tension between freedom and entrapment in human experience.

In Triptych (Right Panel), Bacon's exploration of anatomy becomes not just a study of physical form, but also a means of questioning the integrity of identity, body, and existence. The fragmentation of the body here echoes the broader existential angst that permeates much of his work. The leg, rendered with a degree of realism, contrasts sharply with the more abstract and unsettling arrangement of the face, underscoring the tension between the physical and metaphysical, the known and the unknown. Through this dissonance, Bacon forces the viewer to confront the limitations of the body and the fragility of human life, while simultaneously inviting reflection on the deeper psychological and existential themes that underpin his work.

Buy Francis Bacon Triptych 1991 (Right panel)

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With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Triptych 1991 print. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Triptych 1991 print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of Francis Bacon prints for sale.