Three studies of the Human Head 1953

"Three Studies of the Human Head" (1953), by Francis Bacon, is a triptych comprised of three individual portraits of a distorted human head. Bacon is known for his visceral, often disturbing portrayals of the human form and this work is an exemplary example of his style. The heads, painted with thick, impasto brushstrokes, are contorted and appear to be in a state of intense emotional distress. The backgrounds are dark and shadowy, adding to the overall sense of unease. Bacon's fascination with the human condition and its darker aspects is evident in this work. The exaggerated features and the intense emotional expression make the viewer contemplate mortality and the fragility of the human body.