Figure in movement 1985

Francis Bacon, born in 1909, painted "Figure in Movement" at an unknown date, offering a glimpse into his exploration of the human condition through the lens of post-war existentialism. Bacon lived through both World Wars, and he translated the anxieties and uncertainties of the 20th century into visceral, distorted forms. The figure, isolated against an intense orange backdrop, seems caught between action and paralysis, a tension reflecting the fractured sense of self. There is a sense of the body in extremis, wrestling with internal and external forces. As a gay man, Bacon understood the experience of living outside societal norms. Bacon once said, “I would like my pictures to look as if a human being had passed between them, like a snail leaving a trail of the human presence and memory trace of past events, as the snail leaves its slime.” In this painting, Bacon creates a raw, unflinching portrayal of human existence, inviting us to confront the complexities and vulnerabilities that define our shared humanity.