Fallen Figure with Arms Up c. 1957 - 1961

Curator: Here we see Francis Bacon's "Fallen Figure with Arms Up," part of the Tate Collection. It's an ink drawing on paper. Editor: Striking! The immediate impression is one of utter vulnerability, even desperation. The cobalt blue lines are so raw, almost violently applied. Curator: Bacon's figures often embody existential angst. The raised arms, a recurring motif, could be interpreted as a surrender, a plea, or even an echo of crucifixion imagery. Editor: The stark white background amplifies that sense of isolation. And the horizontal lines slicing across the figure create this feeling of constraint, as if trapped. Curator: Indeed, the figure seems suspended between opposing forces, mirroring Bacon's own turbulent life and his fascination with human fragility. Its universality touches on our primal fears of helplessness. Editor: The sketch-like quality intensifies the immediacy. The materiality conveys emotion in such a raw way! Curator: A powerful study, reflecting the enduring power of symbolic form. Editor: It's a brutal work, rendered with surprising tenderness.