Figure Study II 1946

Francis Bacon made this painting, Figure Study II, with oil on canvas. His approach to mark-making is all about disruption, like a beautiful train wreck. The paint is applied in layers, thick in some spots and thin in others, transparent and opaque both at once. Look at the way the figure seems to dissolve into the orange background, smearing and distorting as if reality itself is unstable. Then notice the stark contrast of the crisp lines of the suit. The umbrella seems to protect the figure from complete disintegration, but also adds to the sense of confinement. Bacon's influence can be seen in contemporary artists who explore the darker aspects of human existence. Like Philip Guston, he embraces the power of ambiguity and emotional expression in painting.