“Triptych – Studies of the Human Body” is an artwork created by Francis Bacon in 1970. This piece falls within the expressionist art movement and is categorized as a sketch and study. The artwork comprises three panels, each depicting distorted, abstract forms of the human figure against a largely monochromatic backdrop.
In the artwork, the human forms are presented in a contorted and dynamic manner, emphasizing Bacon’s exploration of the human body in an almost grotesque and visceral expression. The central panel features a figure seated under an umbrella, while the figures on the left and right panels appear to be bending or crouching over a curved bar. The background consists of a uniform shade of pale purple, which serves to highlight the stark, raw, and almost violent rendition of the human forms in the foreground. The minimalist background accentuates the focus on the twisted corporeal shapes, revealing the intensity and emotional depth characteristic of Bacon’s stylistic approach.
