Pope and Chimpanzee 1962

Francis Bacon made this painting, Pope and Chimpanzee, with oil paint. It’s like he was wrestling with figuration itself. The dominant colors are these bruised purples and reds, and there are moments where the paint is really thick, almost sculptural. I imagine Bacon attacking the canvas, scraping away, building up layers, trying to capture something elusive. The raw vulnerability of the Pope’s figure, and the raw energy of the chimpanzee, like it’s being reborn from the painting itself. The bold, almost violent brushstrokes remind me of Goya, who was similarly obsessed with the grotesque. I feel like Bacon’s speaking to him across time, riffing on themes of power, corruption, and the animalistic side of human nature. This isn't just representation. It's visceral expression.