“Triptych 1986-1987” is a figurative, expressionist artwork created by Francis Bacon in 1987. This artwork exemplifies Bacon’s characteristic style and highlights the emotional intensity and distorted figures often seen in Expressionism.
The artwork comprises three distinct panels, each depicting a unique scene. On the left panel, there is a stoic figure dressed in formal attire, walking towards the viewer, who occupies a confined and stark space. The central panel illustrates a nude, muscular figure, contorted in a position that conveys both tension and vulnerability, confined to a dark platform and encircled by yellow cords. The right panel presents an enigmatic, slightly surreal image of a clipboard holding a blood-stained piece of paper, mounted on an indistinguishable object. The overall composition is marked by Bacon’s hallmark use of minimalist backgrounds, stark lighting contrasts, and the incorporation of visceral human forms, all of which evoke a powerful emotional response from the viewer.
