Offset lithograph with cold stamp on paper hand signed by Takashi Murakami with silver pen and numbered of a limited edition of 300.
Homage to Francis Bacon (Study of Isabel Rawsthorne) is a work created by Takashi Murakami in 2017 which, as the title suggests, pays tribute to the brilliant and tormented British painter Francis Bacon. But naturally, it’s done the Murakami way: full of color, boldness, and a distinct pop twist.
Rather than sticking to a faithful reinterpretation, Murakami dives into a kind of artistic dialogue between two opposing worlds: Bacon’s, dark, expressionist, and anguished—and his own, filled with smiling flowers, mutant characters, and that unmistakable visual universe that blends the kawaii with the philosophical. On this occasion, he draws inspiration from the portraits Bacon made of Isabel Rawsthorne—muse, artist, and a constant presence in Bacon’s work.
The result is an almost impossible fusion: the distorted faces are still there, but filtered through Murakami’s superflat aesthetic. Saturated colors, flat backgrounds, and that slightly psychedelic touch that turns everything into a visual celebration… but with depth.
This piece works as a tribute, a reinterpretation, and a statement of intent: Murakami not only admires Bacon—he brings him into his own universe. And he does so without losing an ounce of irony or respect. It’s the perfect piece for those who enjoy art that bridges eras, styles, and emotions—with a good dose of humor (and just the right amount of controlled madness).
As happened with the 727 series, Murakami’s Homage to Francis Bacon has become one of the most compelling works of his career. The first time Study of George Dyer and Study of Isabel Rawsthorne were released was back in 2004, and there have been two further editions since. In 2012, Murakami released an extremely limited series of screen prints that are now almost impossible to find.
In 2017, the artist revisited these works, adding his now-iconic silver background, which enhances the vivid colors of the portraits and gives them a watercolor-like quality. Interest in these pieces has always been strong—and it only continues to grow with time, just like it has with the legendary 727.
