On First Encountering Francis Bacon’s Paintings
Contributed by Robert D. Newman, President and Director, National Humanities Center
The disturbing art of Irish-born British painter Francis Bacon often violates formal boundaries of the human. Consequently, a visit to a retrospective of Bacon’s work at the Hirschhorn Museum left Robert D. Newman deeply unsettled. As a humanities moment, this encounter compelled Newman to grapple with Bacon’s art, sorting through “contradictory emotions,” ultimately growing “as a being and as a self.”
Title
On First Encountering Francis Bacon’s Paintings
Description
The disturbing art of Irish-born British painter Francis Bacon often violates formal boundaries of the human. Consequently, a visit to a retrospective of Bacon’s work at the Hirschhorn Museum left Robert D. Newman deeply unsettled. As a humanities moment, this encounter compelled Newman to grapple with Bacon’s art, sorting through “contradictory emotions,” ultimately growing “as a being and as a self.”
Source
Francis Bacon's paintings at the Hirshhorn Museum
Contributor
Robert D. Newman, President and Director, National Humanities Center
Identifier
robert-newman-francis-bacon-paintings