Francis Bacon: Three Studies for a Self-Portrait

Technique Set of 3 color lithographs on Arches paper (single sheet print) Year of Production 1990 Edition E.A. (Épreuve d'Artiste/Artist's Proof) in addition to the regular edition of 60. Signature Hand-signed in pencil by the artist Published by Michel Archimbaud Librairie Séguier, Paris Framed Size 120.5 × 68.5 cm Catalogue Raisonné Listings Bruno Sabatier, "Francis Bacon: The Graphic Work," No. 26 Alexandre Tacou, "Francis Bacon: Estampes," No. 28 Condition The colors are vibrant and rich, with no flaws such as stains, creases, or fading. About the Artwork **"Three Studies for a Self-Portrait"** is a representative late print work by Francis Bacon, produced in 1990. The theme of self-portraiture is one of the most important motifs for understanding Bacon's art, and this work can be considered the culmination of that exploration. Bacon produced numerous portraits from a young age, but from the 1970s onwards, due to the successive losses of close friends and lovers, he turned to self-portraits as if to re-examine himself. He stated, "I painted myself because I had fewer models to paint," but beneath those words lay a deep interest in universal themes such as human existence, the flow of time, aging, and solitude. In this work, three self-portraits are arranged on a single canvas. The triptych was a composition Bacon favored throughout his life, and by depicting a single person from different angles or in different psychological states, it expresses the complexity of human existence rather than a mere portrait. Slight differences in gaze, distortions of the face, and changes in color evoke the passage of time and inner fluctuations, creating an intense tension within a quiet composition. Bacon's self-portraits do not possess the realism of typical portraits. Faces are boldly distorted, outlines waver, and bodies are depicted as if fluid. However, this distortion was not to deny reality but a unique form to capture the spirituality and life energy that photography could not express. What Bacon himself aimed for was not the "outward appearance" but "existence itself." The colors are also a major attraction of this work. Vivid oranges and pinks, deep blues and blacks are balanced exquisitely, making the figures stand out. The contrast between bold color fields and empty spaces draws the viewer's gaze to the self-portraits, further emphasizing the figures' solitude and quiet tension. This work is an **Artist's Proof (Épreuve d'Artiste)**, produced separately from the regular edition of 60, making it a rare edition with extremely limited market circulation. Artist's proofs are special prints produced prior to the main edition, and their rarity makes them highly prized by collectors and museums worldwide. The work was published through the initiative of **Michel Archimbaud**, a renowned art critic and writer, by **Librairie Séguier** in Paris. Produced as part of an important series of publications on Bacon, this work holds a significant position not only for its perfection as a print but also historically. "Three Studies for a Self-Portrait" encapsulates the question "What is the self?" that Bacon pursued throughout his life. Combining artistic merit, rarity, and historical significance, this work is one of Francis Bacon's most highly regarded representative print works and possesses a value suitable for long-term collection.