portrait of Pope Innocent

Francis Bacon (1909-1992), an Irish painter naturalized English, was one of the most interesting artists of the 20th century. Representative of Existentialism, he captured the anguish of postwar Europe. Famous for his expressionist reinterpretations of Velázquez's Portrait of Innocent X, Bacon created a series of approximately 45 paintings titled "Screaming Pope". This series is a metaphorical journey into the interiority and Hell of existence. The screaming faces of Innocent X become the scream of humanity, revealing the hidden truth of a false society. In the 1953 version, the pope is depicted screaming, hairless, wearing a clown hat, and clutching the throne. The black background and blue brushstrokes create a gloomy atmosphere. Bacon, heir of Munch, transforms Velázquez's Innocent X from an authoritative figure into a solitary, desperate man trapped in power, screaming in an energy-consuming trap. An official portrait becomes a revelation of the deepest vulnerabilities.