Francis Bacon refused to be classified among the expressionists.

Francis Bacon (1909.1992)

Autographed letter signed to Mrs. Brinson.

At the Fine Arts Department of Presbyterian College in Clinton, USA.

Two quarto pages. Autograph envelope with postal markings.

7 Reece Mews. London. 1 ^January [19] 73 .

« I do not think my painting is expressionist and I do not like expressionism. »

An important letter from the British painter refusing to have his art classified among the expressionist movement he despises, and explaining his creative process based on the practice of instinct and chance.

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“Dear Mrs Brinson, thank you for your very kind letter. There is one other thing I would like to say, I do not think my painting is expressionist and I do not like expressionism . In my own care what interests me is the way appearance can be remade as far from illustration as possible not to express only to find through instinct and chance how the appearance can be retrapped.

That is why I believe now that portrait painting is one of the most exciting aspects as is it almost impossible to do. By the way I don't mean blown up photographs or screen prints. With all my best wishes. Yours very sincerely. Francis Bacon .”

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 Translation :

“Dear Mrs. Brinson, thank you for your very kind letter. There is one more thing I would like to say: I do not think my painting is expressionist, and I do not like expressionism . As far as I am concerned, what interests me is how appearance can be recreated as far removed as possible from illustration, not to express, but to discover, by instinct and by chance, how that appearance can be recaptured . This is why I now believe that portrait painting is one of the most exciting aspects because it is almost impossible to achieve. Besides, I am not talking about enlarged photographs or silkscreens. With my very best wishes. Sincerely, Francis Bacon.”