Figure with Meat 1954

Francis Bacon's "Figure with Meat," now at the Art Institute of Chicago, encapsulates the anxieties of post-war identity. Painted in the aftermath of World War II, Bacon, who was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was largely stigmatized, channels feelings of vulnerability into this piece. The brutal imagery of the raw meat hanging either side of the figure evokes a sense of abjection. The faceless figure sits beneath, trapped, and powerless. Bacon's exploration of the human form through this disturbing juxtaposition speaks to broader questions about how the body is positioned within systems of power and control. Bacon once stated that he saw humanity as "meat." He said "We are all meat. We are all potential carcasses." This can be seen as a dark commentary on mortality. "Figure with Meat" encourages a visceral, emotional engagement, confronting us with the fragility of existence.