Embodiment as Sacrament: Francis Baconʹs Postwar Horror

Arya, Rina

Abstract

The power of Francis Bacon{\textquoteright}s (1909–1992) art lies, in part, in the contradictory range of responses that it evokes. Some viewers experience his paintings as energetic and uplifting; others react to the despondent and annihilating qualities of Bacon{\textquoteright}s oeuvre. This polarization of expression is encapsulated in an oxymoron that Bacon coined: “exhilarated sense of despair.”² Unpacking this phrase further we see that the extremes need not only be viewed as contradictory but also as part of his sensibility. The despair may characterize Bacon{\textquoteright}s observation of his historical environment.

Citation

Arya, R. (2013). Embodiment as Sacrament: Francis Baconʹs Postwar Horror. In J. Romaine, & L. Stratford (Eds.), ReVisioning (311--322). CASCADE

• Publication Date: 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2024
• Pages: 311--322
• Book Title: ReVisioning
• ISBN: 9781620320846
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4629604