Existentialism in Francis Bacon’s Life Through His . Biography, The Gilded Gutter Life of Francis Bacon . and His Selected Paintings

Abstract

This independent study aims to examine Francis Bacon, a British artist who painted during the aftermath of the World War II era, through his life and his selected paintings and how they are related to the idea of existentialism. Its purpose is to reflect on the human conditions of an individual who is struggling to fight for the essence of life, and in doing so encountered the existential crises involving alienation, loneliness and misery. These conditions are influenced by wars, strict rules in society, religion, traditions, family pressure, and difficult and complicated relationships. They restrict and obstruct an individual’s freedom and feeling of self-worth and may cause great unhappiness. The findings of this research through Francis Bacon’s life and his paintings determined that all human beings are born without the essence of life and yet have freedom to search for and obtain it for themselves, as all beings need to recognize a sense of ‘essence’ to deal with the emptiness and absurdity of life. A life without essence and freedom is a meaningless life. Nevertheless, human beings are social animals and need interactions with others as each person has freewill, his or her own sense of identity and a way to seek one’s own meaning of life. Therefore, all individuals should respect the notions of freedom and the rights of other people and learn to take this as a great responsibility and not diminish other peoples’ freedom or negatively affect those around them. Then, it is regarded as a valuable and deserved freedom. Even though, each individual encounters different experiences and diverse perspectives, we encounter the same facts, facing unavoidable misery, uncertainty of life and the unpredictability of mortality. Thus, the most important thing is that all individuals have to take every second and make it worthy and meaningful, seek self-happiness in life and be aware of the misery that might occur at any time during their existence.