Three Studies for a Self-Portrait 1980

Here we have Francis Bacon’s "Three Studies for a Self-Portrait," done in oil. Look at how he's wrestling with the image, smearing and pulling, as if trying to capture something that's always slipping away. There's a real physicality to the paint, thick in places, especially around the eyes and mouth, and thinly smeared in others. It's not about getting a likeness, but more about the act of trying to pin down a feeling. See how the mouth is rendered, almost like a gash? That mark alone speaks volumes about Bacon's state of mind, the sense of unease and torment. This piece, with its raw emotion and willingness to distort, reminds me a little of Picasso's portraits – that same desire to break down and rebuild the human face. But Bacon takes it a step further, pushing the boundaries of what a portrait can be.