Tassels

"Tassels" by Francis Bacon is a compelling figurative oil-on-canvas painting, notable as the final piece in his "1949 Head" series. The work depicts a bust-like figure inspired by Diego Velázquez's Portrait of Innocent X. Bacon employs vigorous, expressive brush strokes characteristic of Expressionism, emphasizing emotional intensity. The figure is enclosed within a glass cage set against curtain-like drapery, evoking a sense of confinement, suffocation, and inner torment—appearing to scream into an airless void. This haunting imagery encapsulates Bacon's exploration of existential alienation and psychological depth.