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Francis Bacon Seated Figure 1992
"I want a very ordered image but I want it to come about by chance. If you want to convey fact, this can only ever be done through a form of distortion. I work much better in chaos… chaos for me breeds images. I always think of myself not so much as a painter but as a medium for accident and chance."
Based on the 1977 oil painting of the same name, Seated Figure is a striking example of how perspective can be manipulated to create a sense of disorientation and psychological tension. This print, like many of Bacon's other works, uses an unconventional perspective to challenge the viewer's understanding of space and form, enhancing the sense of unease and complexity within the image.
One of the most notable aspects of Bacon's use of perspective in "Seated Figure" is the way he breaks away from traditional, linear perspective. Instead of providing a clear, structured space, Bacon introduces elements that feel fractured, distorted, and inconsistent. The figure's body appears to be twisted and contorted, with limbs that seem to bend and stretch in unnatural ways. This creates an effect of disintegration, as though the body is caught in a state of flux, neither fully grounded in reality nor completely abstracted.
The chair on which the figure sits is depicted with a certain level of ambiguity. The seat's circular base contrasts sharply with the dark, angular backdrop, suggesting multiple spatial planes that do not align in any coherent manner. This adds to the illusion that the figure exists within an unstable environment, heightening the tension between the subject and the space it occupies.
Bacon's treatment of space in this image oscillates between flattening and depth. The background is predominantly a flat black, which serves to isolate the figure and bring it to the foreground. However, the use of curved lines, such as the arc of the chair and the oval-shaped surface beneath the figure, gives a sense of depth that contradicts the overall flatness of the composition. This duality in perspective makes the figure seem as if it is simultaneously emerging from and being swallowed by the space around it, reinforcing a sense of existential confinement and isolation.
The two slanted lines flanking the figure draw the viewer's gaze towards the centre, guiding the eye in a way that suggests a forced, funnel-like perspective. This technique creates a sense of inward movement, as though the figure is being pushed or pulled into a narrow, claustrophobic space. The juxtaposition of these elements results in an unsettling feeling of depth and compression, a hallmark of Bacon's work.
The disorienting perspective in "Seated Figure" serves to intensify the psychological impact of the image. By distorting the figure and the space it inhabits, Bacon creates a sense of discomfort that forces the viewer to confront the instability and vulnerability of the human condition. The lack of a clear, grounded perspective prevents the viewer from settling into the image comfortably, mirroring the sense of anxiety and tension that characterises much of Bacon's work.
The disfigured body of the figure appears to be caught in a moment of anguish or introspection, and the skewed perspective amplifies this emotional state. The figure’s exaggerated proportions, elongated limbs, and contorted posture contribute to the sense of distortion, making it appear both physically and psychologically tormented. The perspective thus becomes a vehicle for expressing the inner turmoil of the subject, making the viewer acutely aware of the fragility and chaos inherent in the human experience.
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