Self-Portrait 1973

This self-portrait, by Francis Bacon, has a real sense of urgency in its brushwork, like Bacon is trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of himself before it disappears. Up close, the surface is a flurry of pinks, purples and fleshy tones, all smeared and blended with an almost violent energy. Look at how the right eye is barely suggested, a ghostly smudge of white and grey, while the mouth seems to dissolve into the neck. It's as if Bacon is dismantling the traditional portrait, pulling it apart to reveal something more raw and visceral. There's a kinship between Bacon's unflinching gaze and that of someone like Jenny Saville, who also isn't afraid to confront the messy realities of the body. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art isn't about perfect representation, but about capturing something real, something human, in all its messy complexity.