The Black Triptychs are a poignant series of three triptychs created by Francis Bacon between 1972 and 1974, marking a period of intense personal grief and artistic expression following the tragic suicide of his lover, George Dyer. Dyer's death, occurring just two days before the opening of Bacon's retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris, profoundly impacted Bacon, leading to the creation of these works as a form of exorcism of his sense of loss. The series includes In Memory of George Dyer, Triptych–August 1972, and Triptych, May–June 1973. These pieces are unified by their shared themes, format, stark black backgrounds symbolizing death and mourning, and the depiction of doorways, suggesting passages to another realm or the void after death. The presence of Dyer, either directly or symbolically, permeates these works, reflecting a blend of personal reminiscence and the broader existential themes that characterized much of Bacon's oeuvre​ (Wikipedia)​.

The portrayal in these triptychs oscillates between explicit narrative elements and Bacon's typical rejection of storytelling in his art. For instance, Triptych, May–June 1973 vividly captures the tragic sequence of Dyer's demise, with each panel offering a disjointed glimpse into the final moments and the aftermath of his death, avoiding a linear narrative but deeply infused with personal and emotional resonance. This approach allowed Bacon to explore the themes of death, loss, and the passage of time in a manner that was both intimately personal and universally evocative​ (Wikipedia)​.

One of the triptychs, Triptych–August 1972, illustrates the psychological and physical disintegration of Dyer through a series of images that are both a homage and a meditation on their relationship. The panels depict Dyer in various states of unraveling, juxtaposed with dark, consuming voids that signify his disintegration and the overwhelming presence of death. Bacon's use of imagery, such as the open doors and the black void, serve as metaphors for the transition from life to death, encapsulating his grief and the existential dread spurred by Dyer's untimely departure​ (Wikipedia)​.

Throughout his life, Francis Bacon's work was characterized by its intense, often grotesque reimagining of the human form, depicted amidst abstract, confining geometries. His art, particularly from the mid-1960s onward, increasingly reflected his preoccupations with mortality, isolation, and the angst of existence. Following Dyer's suicide, these themes became more pronounced, marking a period of increased introspection and a shift towards a somber, more reflective tone in his work. The Black Triptychs stand as a stark testament to this phase, weaving together Bacon's personal tragedies with his enduring fascinations with the fragility of the human condition and the omnipresence of death​ (The Museum of Modern Art)​.

Francis Bacon remains a towering figure in modern art, known for his raw, unsettling depictions of the human condition. His ability to convey the complexities of emotion and existence through his unique visual language has solidified his status as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The Black Triptychs, in particular, encapsulate his talent for blending personal narrative with broader existential themes, offering a haunting, deeply moving exploration of grief, loss, and the inexorable march of time.