“Study for Portrait” is an oil on canvas painting created by the artist Francis Bacon in 1977. The artwork, rendered in the genre of expressionism, measures 198 x 147 cm and is part of a private collection.
The artwork depicts a surreal and haunting scene, characteristic of Bacon’s style. At its center is a contorted figure, seated and enshrouded in shadow, which occupies a box-like structure. The figure appears distorted and ghostly, with exaggerated and overlapping forms contributing to a sense of disorientation and unease. The background is stark and dark, offering a stark contrast to the pale, fleshy tones of the figure. The floor in the foreground introduces elements such as scattered pieces of paper and a shadowy figure, further enhancing the sense of disorder and complex narrative. The use of color, shadow, and form evoke intense emotion and convey a deeply unsettling atmosphere, aligning with the tenets of expressionism.
