Levels 3-8

Each Wednesday morning from Week 4, Term 3, join an NGV Educator live from The Picasso Century for a short and lively introduction to a work from the exhibition. To have your questions answered about the Wednesday Work of the Week send them in advance to education.bookings@ngv.vic.gov.au

A program recording will also be available to access online for booked participants for one week.

Self portrait

In this Wednesday’s Work of the Week we’ll be looking at British artist Francis Bacon’s blurred and contemplative Self-portrait (1971). We will ask the same question the artist may have considered as he painted his portrait: ‘Who is Francis Bacon?’. We’ll also consider how time, memory and the work of Pablo Picasso inspired Bacon’s haunting visual style.

Duration: 15 mins

Cost: Free

Learning objectives

• Analyse and interpret the ideas and messages communicated in the artwork
• Evaluate self-portraiture as a method of self-analysis
• Consider how the artwork both reflects and subverts traditional characteristics associated with portraiture