• Francis Bacon
  • Head Series I - VI, Created 1948 - 1949

    Head I, 1948

    Oil and tempera on hardboard

    103cm x 75cm

    Head Series I - VI

    Created 1948 - 1949
    The head series encompasses six paintings made over the course of 2 years for an exhibition at the Hanover Gallery in 1949. These works all cover the study of various portraits, presenting a distorted and grotesque view of the figures. These works are a noticably dark series, in both it's subject and it's colour palette. His dark, almost oppressive color palette enhances the emotional weight of the pieces enveloping the viewer. The stark, confined spaces further intensify the claustrophobic and isolating atmosphere of these portraits.
     
    As is common in many of Bacon's works, several of the figures are presented with open or screaming mouths. These studies of twisted faces often create visceral responses from viewers, fulfilling his goal of depicting experiential and 'sensation' focused artworks, rather than purely realistic figures. 

  • "I wanted to paint the scream more than the horror"

     

    - Francis Bacon

    Bacon used thick, textured brushstrokes and a muted, gloomy colour palette to create unsettling figures, often isolated within confined spaces. Influenced by both his fascination with human vulnerability and existentialist philosophy, the screaming, distorted faces evoke a sense of horror and alienation, making these paintings early examples of Bacon's exploration of the human condition and the fragility of existence. Frequently using distorted anatomical forms, blending figuration and abstraction, these paintings challenge the structures of traditional portraiture.
  • In the head series, Bacon experimented with new techniques that would define his unique style. Rather than depicting recognisable individuals,...
    In the head series, Bacon experimented with new techniques that would define his unique style. Rather than depicting recognisable individuals, his heads are anonymous and fragmented, suggesting universal experience. Bacon's figures often seem caught in a moment of transition, between form and dissolution. The backgrounds, usually undefined or geometric, heighten the sense of isolation, framing his grotesque figures in a way that emphasises their vulnerability and emotional intensity, creating an atmosphere of dread.
     
    The progression from Head I to Head VI in Bacon’s series moves from abstraction, then culminates in a more realistic  representation. As the series progresses, the forms become gradually more defined. By Head VI, the depiction of the human head is the most figurative, showcasing clearer anatomical details, including the prominent screaming mouth.  This shift from abstraction to a more recognisable form mirrors Bacon’s exploration of existential fear through a progressively more focused and visceral expression.