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The Crucible of New York: Francis Bacon and the 1950s

The decade of the 1950s witnessed a seismic shift in the landscape of Western art, largely spearheaded by a small cohort of painters operating out of New York City. While Paris had long held the mantle of artistic innovation, this group—often dubbed the “Rebels” or Abstract Expressionists—seized control of the narrative, injecting raw emotion and visceral intensity into their canvases. Francis Bacon, though already established as a significant figure by 1950, found himself at the heart of this transformative period, navigating its complexities with characteristic intensity and forging a deeply personal artistic language. His work during these years wasn’t simply about depicting reality; it was an excavation of human experience—the anxieties, fears, and primal urges that simmered beneath the surface of everyday life.

Bacon's early voyages to South Africa in 1951 and 1952 proved pivotal. The stark landscapes – the vast, open grasslands punctuated by the silhouettes of wild animals – ignited a profound response within him. These experiences weren’t translated into straightforward representations; instead, they became catalysts for a series of paintings that captured the unsettling tension between vulnerability and power, confinement and freedom. The primal energy of the animal world—its movements, its instincts—found their way onto his canvases, often distorted and fragmented, reflecting the artist's own turbulent inner state. The influence of ancient Egyptian art, particularly its exploration of human form and symbolism, also became increasingly apparent during this time, informing a desire to capture not just likeness but essence.

The mid-1950s saw Bacon grappling with themes of masculinity, sexuality, and mortality through a series of intensely unsettling portraits. The “Man in Blue” paintings—a sequence of seven canvases depicting a single figure in varying poses—became a defining work of this period. These figures, rendered in stark monochrome, are not simply representations but embodiments of psychological states: isolation, vulnerability, and a disturbing awareness of one’s own mortality. The reductive nature of the series, stripping away extraneous detail to focus on the essential form, underscores Bacon's fascination with the underlying structure of human experience. The inspiration for this series stemmed from a particular man who modeled for him in Henley-on-Thames, a figure whose presence served as a conduit for exploring themes of power and control.

Simultaneously, Bacon was pushing beyond portraiture into the realm of the nude, but not with idealized beauty. His “Two Figures” paintings—depicting two male nudes intertwined in a dynamic pose—are imbued with a palpable sense of unease and erotic tension. Drawing heavily on Eadweard Muybridge’s pioneering photographs of human movement (“The Human Figure in Motion”), Bacon manipulated the poses to amplify their inherent ambiguity, suggesting both physical attraction and underlying violence. This engagement with Muybridge's work reflects Bacon's interest in capturing not just the static image but the dynamic energy of the body in motion—a key element that would continue to inform his art throughout his career.

The Influence of the Past: Van Gogh and Beyond

Bacon’s artistic development during the 1950s was profoundly shaped by a deep engagement with the history of art, particularly the work of Vincent van Gogh. The artist's relentless pursuit of capturing the essence of his subject matter—the raw emotion and immediacy of experience—resonated deeply with Bacon’s own approach. The 1957 exhibition at the Hanover Gallery, featuring six paintings inspired by Van Gogh’s “The Painter on the Road to Tarascon,” marked a crucial turning point in Bacon's artistic trajectory. This work, painted shortly before the show’s deadline, demonstrated a shift towards a more expressive and gestural style—a coarsening of the paint application, a heightened sense of urgency, and an intensified focus on color.

However, Bacon didn’t simply imitate Van Gogh; he absorbed his spirit of experimentation and his willingness to break with established conventions. He also drew inspiration from other sources: the monumental scale of Michelangelo's figures, the expressive distortions of German Expressionism, and the stark simplicity of primitive art. The influence of Muybridge remained a constant presence, providing him with visual templates for depicting movement and capturing the dynamism of the human form. Bacon’s relentless study of these diverse influences—combined with his own unique vision—resulted in a body of work that was both deeply personal and profoundly influential.

A Turbulent Circle: Friends and Patronage

Bacon's life during the 1950s was characterized by a complex network of relationships, encompassing both artistic collaborators and loyal patrons. His circle included fellow artists such as Peter Pollock and Paul Danquah, who provided him with temporary studio space in Battersea; writers like Ann Fleming and Sonia Orwell, offering intellectual companionship; and art dealers like Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, who became invaluable supporters. The relationship with Peter Lacy, a former fighter pilot and test pilot, was particularly intense—a mixture of obsession, admiration, and destructive behavior that dominated Bacon’s life for several years. Lacy's presence in Tangier and later London profoundly impacted Bacon’s artistic output, fueling his creative energy while simultaneously contributing to his emotional turmoil.

The support of the Sainsbury family was particularly significant, providing Bacon with financial stability and access to a wider audience. Their patronage allowed him to pursue his art without the constant pressure of commercial considerations, fostering an environment conducive to experimentation and innovation. Bacon’s international reputation continued to grow during this period, culminating in exhibitions at the Venice Biennale in 1954 and in New York and Paris in 1957. These events brought him recognition as one of the leading figures of Abstract Expressionism—a testament to his enduring influence on the art world.

Legacy and Transformation

By the end of the 1950s, Bacon’s painting had undergone a dramatic transformation in handling and color. The exhibition at the Hanover Gallery in March 1957 showcased this evolution—six paintings inspired by Van Gogh's “The Painter on the Road to Tarascon,” including one painted the year before. The subsequent three works were completed with remarkable speed, while the final two were added later. This accelerated process reflected a deepening commitment to his own artistic vision, driven by a desire to capture the immediacy of experience and the raw energy of human emotion. Bacon’s work during this decade—characterized by its unsettling imagery, expressive brushwork, and profound psychological depth—established him as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art.