Introduction
The artwork in question is the Study for a Portrait by Francis Bacon. The painting was completed in 1949 and presented as a gift for Joseph and Jory Shapiro who were two of the major art collectors in Chicago. The piece of art is oil on canvas painting created during the Second World War as a representation of the struggles of the time.
Analysis of the Work
A glance at the painting depicts a grotesque image of a man screaming in a transparent cage. The painting incorporates a typical style that the artist used in presentation of emotionally charged and raw imagery evident in many of his works. The painting depicts a man stuck to a chair and seated inside a clear cage. The yellow ocher lighting in the painting in contrast with the black shadowy figures around the man heighten the expression of anguish. It is clear that the environment of the man in the painting does not seem to amuse him. It is a representation of the effect of all the bloodshed that was taking place at the time could have on humanity. In this case, the Holocaust had taken place with Adolf Hitler and many of his subordinates undertaking upon themselves the authority to murder anyone who is of Jewish ancestry. Adolf Eichmann was one of the major organizers of this fateful event in history. As a result, many of the critics of the painting identify it as a pre-figuration of the Eichmann’s trial that would take place more than a decade later. The depiction is a means of emphasizing his anguish and suffering that he would encounter for the innocent lives he took.
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The face of the man in the painting is distorted and almost invisible to the audience. The hands of the figure seem to be mutilated as the one on the left seems full while the one on the right is distinctively short. The mutilation could be the source of pain that is making the figure scream inside the cage. In the context of the Holocaust, it would mean that one of the people affected by the mass murders had taken revenge. Numerous people from the Jewish community and across the world wanted to exert their anger on the Nazi generals. Despite the end of the Second World War, many of the war soldiers continued to live in society while many families grieved for years for the loss of their relatives. In this case, it was no surprise for individuals such as Adolf Eichmann to be a target of the common men. The painting may be described as a clear event of an angered survivor of the Holocaust exerting revenge on the Nazi General right in the middle of the trial. The portrait depicts the suffering that the ruthless soldier would experience in the face of all the deaths that occurred under his command.
It is evident that in every portrait, the face is an important feature in the presentation of the image. However, in the Study for a Portrait , Bacon utilizes distorted facial features. It is almost impossible to clearly see the right side of the individual’s face. Only a single eye can be seen and it is shut hence making it difficult to recognize the actual person represented in the painting. The cage utilized in the portrait is an integral factor in drawing attention to the gaping mouth of the figure. Similar to many of his artworks, previously and those that would follow, it was evident that the artist had an obsession with the mouth. It is one of the key features in a human being that fascinated him. Omitting nearly half the face of the figure would force the audience to focus on the mouth. A brief history on the author would identify his obsession with the mouth. He had bought a French book that contained illustrations of numerous mouth infections. He had a sinus problem during childhood and had to undergo an operation on the roof of his mouth.
However, it is important to note that the mouth in its own right offers a special presentation that would make the artist focus on it so much. It is a gateway to the senses, a possible weapon, a communication medium, and even a sexual tool. At a time when the people in the community were grappling with the horrors of the war, it was essential that a man came to communicate a message. In this regard, the focus on the mouth just shows how much of the human drives influence our actions. It is through the distortion of the mouth that it becomes clear that the human beings are experiencing the same thing both physically and emotionally. It is possible that Bacon identifies the distortion as the only lens of presenting the modern world. The events of the wars that have resulted in the deaths of millions of people left many thinking what really is the meaning of life. However, the artist uses the portrait to show the animalistic nature of human beings despite the fact that we have greater intelligence.
Conclusion
The painting is a clear sign of horror and anguish the human race experienced during the fateful events of the war. It was the second in only a few decades, but led to the death of tens of millions of people from all over the world. In the use of the portrait, the artist attempts to show the grotesque outcome that animosity in society could cause.
