Lying Figure
Lying Figure
Signed Print
Francis Bacon
£3,500-£5,000Value Indicator
$7,500-$10,500 Value Indicator
$6,500-$9,000 Value Indicator
¥35,000-¥50,000 Value Indicator
€4,100-€6,000 Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
¥660,000-¥940,000 Value Indicator
$4,700-$6,500 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Giclée print
Edition size: 150
Year: 1969
Size: H 197cm x W 147cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2024 | Sotheby's Paris | France | |||
| June 2022 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2017 | Christie's Paris | France | |||
| January 2017 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| September 2016 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| July 2016 | Hampel Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| June 2016 | Phillips London | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
In this 1969 giclée print, Francis Bacon is concerned with the human body. Bacon approached the human body from the perspective of his own nihilistic vision of existence, marked by the inevitability of death. The physicality of the contorted body lying on a bed seeks to express the vulnerability of human nature. Going beyond visual replications of real life, Bacon sought to evoke the human condition and the anxieties of living in post-war Europe through his abstracted forms.
This print is part of an edition of 150. It depicts a body in the centre of the scene surrounded by a plain interior. The claustrophobic scene expresses the isolation of existence for Bacon, whilst the writhing body represents the violence that Bacon felt was inherent to human nature.
The dull palette of murky green, off-white and blue create a discomforting atmosphere that is almost sickly for the viewer. A single light hangs from the ceiling to illuminate the body and form a brash block of yellow light above the body. This feature accentuates the nauseating colours across the signed print.
Bacon’s treatment of the human body has been likened to that of Picasso. The artist claimed to be interested in Picasso’s use of “an organic form that relates to the human image but is a complete distortion of it.” His depiction of a bulging body in this piece combines contrasting elements of embodiment and abstraction to great effect.
Irish-born artist, Francis Bacon, has produced some of the most famous paintings in the British Contemporary canon. The 20th century maverick's visceral and emotionally charged canvases redefined figurative art. Exploring harrowing themes of trauma, sexuality, religion and violence, Bacon forces the viewer to confront the human psyche and the dark realities of human emotion. Often working from memory or his own imagination, there is a clear morphing of influences on Bacon’s work. An unusual combination of imagery is the result of his exposure to canonical artists such as Velazquez, Picasso and Rembrandt alongside his exploration of medical textbooks and photographic stills.
