The artwork entitled “Sphinx III,” executed in 1954 by the artist Francis Bacon, is an oil painting on canvas. Measuring 198 x 137 cm, this expressionist piece falls into the genre of mythological painting.
The artwork depicts a distorted and spectral figure, seemingly representing a sphinx, which is characterized by human and animalistic elements. Dominated by a dark, almost black backdrop, the sphinx is situated in what appears to be an enigmatic, confined space. The image evokes a sense of isolation and eeriness, underlined by Bacon’s characteristic raw and visceral brushwork. The setting is sparse, consisting primarily of stark, geometric shapes that create a sense of depth, offering a dramatic contrast to the ambiguous figure at the center. The sphinx itself appears spectral and somewhat fragmented, lending an ethereal and haunting quality to the overall composition.
