Francis BACON refuses to be classified among the expressionists.

Francis BACON (1909.1992)

Autograph letter signed to Mrs Brinson.

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

Two pages in-4°. Autograph envelope with postal marks.

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

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

Important letter from the British painter refusing to see his art classified among the expressionist movement that he despises and explaining his creative approach consisting of 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 other thing I would like to say: I don't think my painting is Expressionist, and I don't like Expressionism . As far as I'm concerned, what interests me is how appearance can be recreated as far away from illustration as possible, not to express, but to discover, by instinct and chance, how that appearance can be recaptured . That's why I now believe that portrait painting is one of the most exciting aspects of painting because it is almost impossible to achieve. By the way, I'm not talking about enlarged photographs or silkscreens. With all my best wishes. Very sincerely. Francis Bacon.”