Technique
Lithograph on Arches paper (with watermark)
Year of Production
1986
Edition Size
Limited edition of 150
Artist's Proofs (A.P.) 5
Hors Commerce (H.C.) 30
Signature
Hand-signed in pencil by the artist
Edition
E.A. (Épreuve d'Artiste / Artist's Proof)
This is one of only 5 rare artist's proofs produced.
Printer
Galerie Lelong (Paris)
Publisher
L'Ire des Vents
Paper Size
81.0 × 60.0 cm
Framed Size
94.5 × 78.0 cm
Referenced in Catalogue Raisonnés
-
Bruno Sabatier: No.20
-
Alexandre Tacou: No.20
Condition
The colors are vibrant and deep, and the margins are perfect, indicating excellent preservation.
This work is currently stored in our partner gallery in France. While its condition is rated as good by French standards, please note that evaluation criteria for vintage items may differ between France and Japan. Please consider any signs of age-related wear (such as stains, discoloration, creases, wrinkles, or fading) typical of vintage items before purchasing. Please note that we have not physically inspected the item ourselves. **More detailed condition photos are available upon request, so please inquire before purchasing.** As the work is currently stored in France, please allow more than two weeks for delivery after placing your order. Due to the nature of the artwork, returns after purchase are not accepted.
About the Artwork
**"Portrait of John Edwards"** is a representative print created in 1986, during the later years of Francis Bacon's career.
The model, **John Edwards**, was Bacon's most trusted friend in his later years and served as the subject for many portraits from the 1980s onwards. After the death of George Dyer, Edwards became Bacon's emotional support, and is known as an important figure who supported the artist's final creative endeavors.
Bacon emphasized expressing the subject's presence and inner spirituality rather than depicting figures realistically. In this work, the face and body are depicted with a unique distortion, but this is not to exaggerate reality, but to convey human emotions and the energy of life more strongly.
The canvas employs Bacon's characteristic bold colors and tension-filled composition. Although the expression may seem intense at first glance, a serene atmosphere permeates the whole, highlighting the solitude and quiet presence of the figure. The viewer receives a profound impression, as if confronting the spiritual world of an individual rather than merely observing a portrait.
This work was printed on high-quality Arches paper and produced with the cooperation of **Galerie Lelong**, known for its leading print publications in France. Bacon's print works are limited in number, and this piece is particularly highly regarded among them.
Furthermore, this work is an **Artist's Proof (Épreuve d'Artiste: E.A.)**, produced separately from the regular edition of 150, and is an extremely rare edition with only 5 existing copies. Artist's Proofs are special works printed prior to the main edition and are highly valued by collectors worldwide due to their rarity.
Francis Bacon, a master of 20th-century art, is consistently highly acclaimed in museum collections and the international auction market. "Portrait of John Edwards" is a portrait work that condenses Bacon's mature expression from his later years and his deep insight into human existence, making it an important lithograph that combines artistry, rarity, and collectibility.
This work, depicting John Edwards, his last important model, is indispensable for understanding Bacon's art and possesses value suitable for long-term collection as a representative portrait print of 20th-century modern art.
