The artwork, titled “Three Studies of Figures on Beds,” was created by Francis Bacon in 1972. Employing a combination of oil and pastel on canvas, this piece is an exemplary work within the Expressionism movement. It is a figurative triptych, with each panel measuring 198 by 147.5 centimeters.
The artwork presents a haunting and visceral depiction of human forms contorted on beds, portrayed in a three-part composition. Each panel features a distorted, almost grotesque figure, confined to a bed, set against a stark and clinical background. The figures are dynamically positioned within the rectangular frames, with their forms exaggerated and abstracted, conveying a sense of anguish and turmoil. Bacon’s use of oil and pastel on the canvas creates a texture that adds depth to the raw emotion exuded by the twisted bodies. The surrounding environment is minimalist, drawing the viewer’s focus squarely on the unsettling figures. The blending of colors and rough, vigorous brushstrokes characterizes Bacon’s unique approach to Expressionism, mirroring the complexities and darker facets of human experience.
