Bacon-Picasso: the life of images

Francis Bacon was so inspired by Picasso exhibit in 1927 at Paul Rosenberg gallery in Paris that he decided to dedicate himself to painting. From that point onward, he established and maintained a multifaceted relationship with Picasso's work. The visual, thematic, and philosophical aspects of virtual dialogue that ensued between two artists centered around what Bacon called the brutality of fact that linked his work to that of Picasso. Bacon-Picasso examines work of two artists through their common themes: crucifixion, kiss, scream, and studio portrait/self-portrait. The juxtaposition of paintings clearly demonstrates ways in which Bacon appropriated Picasso's work into his own art. This volume draws from prestigious international collections including Tate Gallery (London), Musee National Picasso and Musee National d'Art Moderne (Paris), Moderna Museet (Stockholm), and Fondation Beyeler (Basel). The Bacon-Picasso exhibition opens at Musee National Picasso, Paris (March 1-May 30, 2005). This exhibition catalog is co-published with Reunion des musees nationaux.