Peter Beard (1938-2020) was an American artist, photographer, writer, and naturalist whose work captured the cultural imagination. His visceral documentation and interpretation demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the modern human condition. It was not uncommon for Beard to present his contact sheets within finished pieces. A contact sheet is a direct print of film negatives onto photographic paper, used by photographers to preview and select images to enlarge. Oftentimes annotated, they offer an inside glimpse into a photographer's process. Unlike a standard proof, his sheets were very intentionally orchestrated and heavily marked, with a final composition in mind. In this way they are more akin to collages, and he would often--as in the case of this work--include actual collaged elements onto his enlarged prints. "...Inside a Camera" features paintings by canonical artist Francis Bacon. The two creatives shared a rich, long-lasting friendship since their first encounter in 1967. Sharing similar personal and creative passions, they became admirers of each other's work, and served as each other's subjects on several occasions. Beard is the subject of 9 major paintings by Bacon, and the inspiration for countless others. An impressive exhibition highlighting their relationship was mounted at Ordovas, London, in 2021. When taking a close look at Beard's annotations on this work, we notice that the negatives are labelled--some with P.B. (Peter Beard), some with F.B. (Francis Bacon). Has Beard juxtaposed the painted portraits of himself and his friend in order to see their similarities and differences? You could say it's somewhat of a selfie, but several times removed. Beard has enlarged his negatives, and added a collaged self-portrait in the top left corner--a signature, of sorts. A handprint stains the bottom, a visceral reminder of the manual labour involved in creating the image. Packed with content and clues, this unique artwork by a beloved artist offers an engaging viewing experience. Layering nuance with mystery, Beard leads his viewers to question the human condition, and the natural order, in their full, uncensored, merciless beauty. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery. "...Inside a Camera" (Francis Bacon contact sheet) USA, 1975-76 Black and white photograph, print, and collage Signed, titled, and dated variously inscribed in ink with collage 24"H 20"W (sheet) 29"H 25.25"W (framed) Very good condition
