Figure with Left Arm Raised, No. 1 c. 1957 - 1961

Curator: This is Francis Bacon’s "Figure with Left Arm Raised, No. 1," housed here at the Tate. The support measures 340 by 270 mm. Editor: It’s startling! The figure seems caught mid-motion, or perhaps mid-collapse. The intense blues against the stark white emphasize the tension. Curator: Indeed. Bacon was deeply concerned with the materiality of paint, the viscosity, how it could distort and reveal the human condition. Consider, too, his interest in capturing raw, unfiltered emotion, especially prevalent given his artistic output in the wake of the World Wars. Editor: I’m struck by the simplicity of the composition. How Bacon distills form with just a few strokes to capture a moment of existential angst is remarkable. Curator: A powerful statement about the human form. Editor: Absolutely; it's a compelling study of vulnerability.