Customer Reviews

Francis Bacon: 1909-1992 (Taschen Basic Art)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
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Luigi Ficacci in his Taschen book FRANCIS BACON: 1909 - 1992 has managed to give us a short survey in words about the particular genius of Francis Bacon, but at the same time presents a solid framework in which to study the primary contributions of Bacon's output by focusing on eleven of the most important works. And while the bookstore shelves have many fine expensive surveys of all of Bacon's works, this little book is a gift to the student whose pocketbook would be stretched as much as the shelf weight by those greater volumes!

Ficacci's writing style is a bit dry, but his points are well made and even better related to the paintings he emphasizes. His work divides Bacon's obsessions into chapters on 'The Poetics of Bacon', 'The Expression of Horror', 'The Human Body', 'The Scene of Tragedy', 'The Portraits', and 'Sources of Inspiration'. Ficacci crowns his book with one of the finest capsulated biographies in print: each phase of Bacon's amazing career is played out in terse paragraphs as a timeline.

Though Ficacci dwells on eleven paintings, this book includes fine reproductions of most of Bacon's works from the earliest to the last, with many little inclusions of works rarely seen in other books. For a superb introduction to one of the 20th century's most influential artists in a readable and affordable scale, this book is among the top choices. Grady Harp, December 05

What else could a genius that lived through the time he did create that would offer to the world a piece of his soul? Not abstract, not Picasso, not anything but a mix of all in a way that describes what man can do to man. Nothing to live for but the moment and the moment is full of horror - most of the time.

This book contains a superb range of beautifully printed Bacon pieces in full colour, and at a very modest price. However, the drawback of this book is the writings of Luigi Ficacci. His essays on Bacon are excruciating to read and immensely difficult to follow. It's like being at an art gallery and overhearing pretentious art-wannabes trying to outdo each other with big words and obscure psychoanalytical references.

So if you're looking for a book containing a comprehensive collection of artwork by Francis Bacon, this is an excellent and affordable collection. However, if you're looking for insight into this fascinating artist, try "Interviews with Francis Bacon" by David Sylvester, or "Bacon" by Ediciones Poligrafa.

A great introduction to the paintings of Francis Bacon. Ficacci's writing is intelligent and is an added bonus to the pleasure of looking at Francis Bacon's paintings.

This book would get a 5 star if instead of Mr. Ficacci writtings, the wholle page would show the reproduction only. Mr. Ficacci whom I couldn't get no indication on who he is, what he does and mainly why was he choosen to comment on Bacon's work, is the weaker part of this book, but not the only.

His comentaries are exorbitants and too prolixic. They are on a wholle very subjective and kind-of-intellectual-like. Not ground based and boring to say the least..

The other drawback might be ( not for me ) that 1/3 of the reproductions , maybe more, are about 1/12 the size of the page, various triptics for instance. Another third about 1/4, and the remain the size of the page (23*18cm)

There is a lot of reproductions, all in colour, samples of his best known and others least known works. Id say 100 counting each triptic as 3.

Comparing with other Taschen publications on painters this is the only book, as far as I know, that they dont print pictures across pages over the bind.

Very good purchase for the price.
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I found this book very, very good for those wishing "to meet" the artist as I did. I didn't know anything about Bacon before but had strong decision to explore his paintings and himself as an artist. This book serve well for this purpose.
It contains many illustrations, all in color but it's not all his paintings. Book covers everything mainly in chronological manner, gives overall picture of Bacon's life journey.
Book is very good, maybe even best start for exploring Bacon's art. After that it's easy to orientate and dive deeper. And besides, Taschen series are really known for their good quality, at least in my mind.
Personally me, I started to explore Bacon's art with exactly this book and it very impressed me. In Bacon's art I found something inspirational for myself. Taking into account Bacon art's specific features this book and Bacon art could
be strongly suggested for animators, game developers, painters, concept artists who's into horror genre. But, by Bacon's own words:"I am not seeing any horror in my pictures"!