“Second Version of Study for Bullfight No. 1” is an oil painting on canvas created in 1969 by the renowned artist Francis Bacon. This piece, falling under the Expressionism movement, measures 198 x 147 cm and belongs to the genre of genre painting. The artwork currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork illustrates an intense and dramatic scene of a bullfight. Dominated by vivid hues of yellow and pink, the composition creates a stark contrast that accentuates the tension inherent in the depicted scene. Central to the artwork is the powerful image of a bull engaged with a matador, rendered in dynamic, fluid brushstrokes that convey a sense of movement and conflict. The presence of a reflective surface or a barrier on the right, showing distorted reflections of an audience, adds a layer of complexity to the painting, suggesting the multifaceted nature of perception and reality. Bacon’s characteristic use of distortion and vivid color presents a distorted, almost surreal interpretation of this visceral event, evoking strong emotional responses from the viewer.
