Two Figures

Painted in 1953, *Two Figures* depicts two intertwined, visceral, and emotionally charged human forms on a bed. The figures are heavily distorted and obscured by a distinct, curtain-like vertical striation. The painting is based on sequential photographs of wrestlers by Eadweard Muybridge.

*Two Figures* was first exhibited at the Hanover Gallery in London. Because of its visceral violence and perceived homoerotic undertones, the painting was highly controversial in 1950s Britain. The gallery had to place it in a separate room to avoid offending general visitors.

Bacon's works routinely sell for tens of millions of dollars, though the exact 1953 *Two Figures* is housed in a private collection and has a fluctuating valuation. If it were to come to auction today, experts estimate it would easily break records due to its historical significance and rarity. Similar 1950s works by Bacon have sold for over $80 million.

Bacon drew heavy inspiration from Eadweard Muybridge's late 19th-century motion studies, specifically the photographs of nude wrestlers. He superimposed the concept of violent physical struggle onto the figures. This blending of athletic motion and intimate physicality is a hallmark of his mid-career work.