“Triptych, May–June 1973” is a 1973 figurative artwork by Francis Bacon, associated with the Expressionism movement and part of his “Black Triptychs” series. The artwork is currently housed in a private collection.
The artwork comprises three panels, each depicting distorted, contorted figures set against stark, dark backgrounds that elicit a profound sense of emotional intensity and psychological depth. An overarching theme of anguish and despair pervades the triptych, conveyed through the grotesque and fragmented form of the figures. Each figure appears isolated, framed within a doorway, accentuating the sense of confinement and existential solitude. The central panel is particularly striking, with the spectral figure seemingly weighed down by an overwhelming burden under a singular, bare light bulb, adding layers of meaning to the evocative composition. The muted color palette and stark contrasts amplify the emotional impact, characteristic of Bacon’s masterful style.
