Nude Reading c. 1957 - 1961

Editor: This is Francis Bacon's "Nude Reading," and the date of creation is unknown. It's a small drawing, a mere 254 x 190 mm. The lines are so spare and raw, it gives me a feeling of vulnerability. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, I see a soul laid bare! Bacon, you know, had this knack for capturing the human condition at its most fragile. It's like he's peeled back the layers to reveal the raw nerve endings. Do you feel the tension between the act of reading and the vulnerability of the nude form? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't quite articulated it that way, but it makes perfect sense now. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It's a glimpse into Bacon's raw and visceral world.