Head I, from 1948, is one of the key works of Francis Bacon's early maturity. The figure, more a presence than a recognisable face, appears trapped in a cramped space. The body is reduced to essential elements: a distorted head, a mouth open in what seems a scream, a fragment of flesh quivering with tension.
The painting gives form to physical and psychological anguish, revealing the human being as a fragile, tormented creature. The deep black of the background swallows the figure, while a harsh light exposes it in a cruel and theatrical way. Bacon does not depict an individual, but a feeling: fear, isolation, alienation. Head I anticipates many of the themes that would mark his later output: the silent scream, the distortion of the flesh and the impossibility of escaping one's own condition.
Unique quality material
Print on handmade Amalfi paper Sheet size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in) With frame: 31 x 44 cm (12.2 x 17.3 in) Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges Frame: light brown beech wood and wood pulp, handmade
How an Amalfi art print is made, what the frame is like, what museum glass is, how long shipping takes, and how returns work: we’ve gathered all the answers on a single page.
