Footnote:
Rückseite Titelblatt: This catalogue was created in extraordinary times, to accompany and record an exhibition of the same title that had been scheduled to take place in the Main Galleries of the Royal Academy from 30 January until 18 April 2021. (...) At the time of this book's publication, the exhibition has been postponed until a later date
Ausstellungsdaten der verschobenen Ausstellung von der Homepage der Royal Academy of Arts: 29 January-17 April 2022
Description:
Francis Bacon is considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century. A major exhibition of his paintings at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2020 explores the role of animals in his work - not least the human animal. Having often painted dogs and horses, in 1969 Bacon first depicted bullfights. In this powerful series of works, the interaction between man and beast is dangerous and cruel, but also disturbingly intimate. Both are contorted in their anguished struggle and the erotic lurks not far away: "Bullfighting is like boxing," Bacon once said. "A marvellous aperitif to sex." Twenty-two years later, a lone bull was to be the subject of his final painting. In this fascinating publication - a significant addition to the literature on Bacon - expert authors discuss Bacon's approach to animals and identify his varied sources of inspiration, which included surrealist literature and the photographs of Eadweard Muybridge. They contend that, by depicting animals in states of vulnerability, anger and unease, Bacon sought to delve into the human condition. Exhibition: Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK (22.01-12.04.2021)