Gallery Whispers - Francis Bacon

Study for a Portrait of Van Gogh IV: Francis Bacon

This piece by Francis Bacon is a visceral, emotionally charged reinterpretation of Van Gogh’s self-image. Bacon’s version strips away the romanticized elements of Van Gogh’s version, as a tortured genius. Instead, he plunges me into a more primal emotional state. The lone figure walking down a barren path is engulfed by an intense, almost violent atmosphere, assumingly a testament to his state of mind. Bacon identifies deeply with Van Gogh’s suffering, mental illness, rejection, and artistic obsession, which resonates deeply with many viewers today. This painting can be read as Bacon externalising his torment. The figure’s face is distorted not only physically, but also emotionally, suggesting internal pain erupting onto the surface. This painting is not Van Gogh as a man, but as a psychological state. 

There are only a few ways somebody can view this painting. The emotional violence erupts from the painting; to some, it may feel nostalgic, some may feel resistance, and others may feel pure empathy. Bacon once said he wanted his work to “Bring the viewer nearer to the actual nervous system.” This piece does exactly that: you can feel the nerves and the exposed and raw unravelling.

Writer - Holly Maguire

Editor - Ieva Dambrauskaite