francis bacon: a centenary retrospective, at the met

with curiosity i recently went to his exhibit at the met. he seemed to be a very impenetrable person but his work is thoroughly emotionally exposing, like peering through a peephole into a dark, almost nightmarish room. i think i read once somewhere that he despised all 'art' save for that of the egyptians – i'd love to read more about him. his paintings are so raw and hard to experience.

self-portrait, 1971

three studies for a crucifixion, 1962

there were also photographs by john deakin, a mainly celebrity photographer in london during the 50's-60's. i especially loved the images he made of george dyer, bacon's lover who was very handsome, but mostly you could tell bacon cared about him immensely (not from the photographs, more so from bacon's paintings of him). bacon often used deakin's images in his painting process.

george dyer in the reece mews studio, 1964

george deakin in soho, 1964

this second image reminds me of some of jean cocteau's drawings of jean marais.

dyer + bacon by john deakin; not included in the met exhibit)

francis bacon: a centenary retrospective is on at the met through august 16th.