Printed by

Galerie Lelong, Paris

Published by

Michael Peppiatt for Art International

Dimensions

Image: 65 × 45 cm (25⅝ × 17¾ in.)

Sheet: 80.5 × 59 cm (31¾ × 23¼ in.)

Literature

Bruno Sabatier, Francis Bacon: Œuvre Graphique (Catalogue Raisonné), No. 21, pp. 78–79.

Alexandre Tacou, No. 21.

Condition

In very good condition.

Catalogue Note

Three Studies of Male Back is one of the most celebrated graphic works produced by Francis Bacon during the final decade of his career. Published in 1987, this lithograph reproduces the central panel of Bacon's monumental triptych of the same title, translating one of his most powerful figurative compositions into the medium of lithography with remarkable fidelity.

The human body remained the central subject of Bacon's art throughout his career. Rather than depicting the figure as an idealised form, he sought to capture its physical presence, vulnerability and psychological intensity. In the present composition, the solitary male figure is viewed from behind, its muscular anatomy simultaneously monumental and fragile. Characteristically, Bacon distorts the body without abandoning its essential humanity, creating an image charged with tension, isolation and emotional ambiguity.

Although the figure appears enclosed within a sparse architectural setting, the surrounding space remains deliberately ambiguous, heightening the sense of psychological drama. Bacon frequently employed simplified interiors, geometric frameworks and luminous monochromatic backgrounds to isolate his subjects, directing the viewer's attention entirely towards the expressive potential of the human form.

Produced under the supervision of Michael Peppiatt—one of Bacon's closest friends, biographers and foremost scholars—and printed by Galerie Lelong, this lithograph is regarded as one of the finest graphic interpretations of the artist's work. The exceptional quality of the printing preserves the subtle tonal transitions and painterly surface that distinguish Bacon's original paintings, demonstrating the remarkable possibilities of colour lithography.

The present impression belongs to the rare Hors Commerce edition, issued in addition to the signed and numbered edition of only ninety-nine impressions. Such proofs are considerably less frequently encountered than the standard edition and are particularly desirable among collectors of Bacon's graphic work.

Combining one of Francis Bacon's most iconic late compositions with exceptional printing, rarity and distinguished publication history, Three Studies of Male Back stands among the most important lithographs in the artist's graphic oeuvre.