Francis Bacon, after Portrait of Michel Leiris (1976), 1977/78

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Etching and aquatint on Arches Vellum paper

Sheet: 67.5 x 52 cm. 26 1/2x 20 1/2 in.
Image: 29.8 x 25 cm. 12 x 10 in.

Edition of 100 (plus proofs)

Signed in pencil and stamped lower right

£10,000 - £15,000 GBP

Edition of 100 with Arabic numbering and a further edition of 46 with Roman numbering. Inspired by the painting of the same title in the collection of the Centre Georges...

Edition of 100 with Arabic numbering and a further edition of 46 with Roman numbering. Inspired by the painting of the same title in the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.

After Portrait of Michel Leiris 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 Les Éditions Georges Visat

Publications

Bruno Sabatier, Francis Bacon, The Graphic Work, no. 2
Alexandre Tacou, Francis Bacon, Estampes, no. 33

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