Francis Bacon Studies of the human body 1980 Art Print

A palpable sense of isolation vibrates through the contrasting fields of saturated orange and stark black within this composition. Centered on a cool blue circular dais, the twisted figurative form exists in a state of mid-transformation, surrounded by fragmented newspaper-like textures that ground the surreal scene.

About Francis Bacon

Bacon often placed his subjects inside cage-like frames against flat, intense backgrounds. Bacon’s work is dramatic and unsettling, and it remains a landmark of post-war painting. Expressionist art uses distorted forms and intense colour to show inner feeling. The original dates from 1980. Groups such as Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter shaped Expressionism before the First World War.

Styling this Francis Bacon print

This Francis Bacon print pairs a bold atmosphere with a blue and orange palette that is easy to build a room around. Choose 24×36″ to make “Studies of the human body” the focal point of a study or living room, or 11×14″ to 16×20″ for a bedside or hallway wall. Finish “Studies of the human body” with a simple black or oak frame: its blue and orange palette pairs naturally with white walls, navy or denim textiles and pale oak.

At a glance

• Type: Francis Bacon print
• Artist: Francis Bacon
• Year: 1980
• Style: Expressionism, Modernism
• Colours: blue and orange
• Mood: bold, surreal
• Subject: The human figure
• Orientation: portrait
• Collections: Francis Bacon Prints, Expressionist Art Prints, Modernist Art Prints