Gallery Whsipers - Francis Bacon “Nude” (1960)

Make it stand out

At first glance, the painting titled, “Nude” seems to offer quite a familiar image. Presumably, a woman, lounging in a chair, arms relaxed behind her head, and legs gently folded in casual comfort. However, as we come closer to the painting, it is not as relaxed as it seems.

As the title suggests, the woman is completely nude, however it is not an idealized vision of femininity. Francis Bacon paints the body in an almost meat-like fashion, which blends anatomy and abstract. The title "Nude" is quite ironic as well. Instead of a sexualised, female, nude body, that celebrates the ideal body, Bacon presents the body as vulnerable, and even grotesque. Interestingly enough, the nude body is not what draws your attention towards the painting.  While our eyes may notice the naked breast of a woman first. It is in a perfect centre of the canvas,  we cannot help, but raise and focus our view towards an unconventional and horror filled face. Disfigured, and blurred into oblivion, it’s a face that lacks identification. There are no soft features here. No lips to smile, no eyes to meet. 

Instead of sexualisation and objectification of a woman’s body, Francis Bacon presents raw and angry representation. It is not your conventional The Birth of Venus, depicting a flawless female body. There are blotches and splashes of dark colours, mixed with the fare-skin of the woman depicted in this painting.  Francis Bacon uses fleshy pinks, reds, and browns to evoke a depiction of raw meat and living tissue, which gives more life to his painting, raising the viewers to deeper emotions. It is not your usual, sexy body. It is the real human body. It strips away traditional beauty standards, and it’s replaced by a brutal and raw depiction of human vulnerability.

Now, let's come back to the face. In several of Francis Bacon’s artworks, faces are often blurred beyond recognition. This lack of recognizable features, such as eyes, nose, and mouth erases the person’s identity, which makes it relatable to all spectators through the depictions of universal suffering. Jonathan Joanes, writes for the Guardian that francis bacon, paints people like animals. The soulless faces are separated from the “fleshy” bodies, giving the animalistic depictions of the humans.

Strikingly beautiful, yet terrifying, “Nude” shows the true nature of the human body; flawed, bloody, fleshy, dirty, human. There’s no sexualisation, unrealistic expectations or aesthetics, just pure human form that clashes with today’s beauty standards. With the background being dark and minimal, the body, perfect centre and bright, is what catches our eyes. The striking, unusual face, often described as ‘soulless’ hypnotises us to stop and think of this piece, and reflect.

“Nude” could be described as ‘terrifying’. However, it is deeply human too. Francis Bacon doesn’t seek to invite us to gaze at the female beauty. Instead, he challenges us to confront the body for what it truly is: unfiltered, gross, fragile. It is honest, not sexy. But, perhaps, honesty is what makes it sexy. 

Francis Bacon doesn’t offer his viewers comfort. He offers the truth. “Nude” repels the standard beauty, desires and aesthetics. It leaves nothing, but flesh.

Written By: Ieva Dambrauskaite