Did you know that Christopher Nolan’s rendition of the Joker was actually inspired by a work of art. Head VI by Francis Bacon (1949). Christopher Nolan’s favorite artist has always been the British painter, Francis Bacon, who is known for making raw and disturbing figurative paintings. His painting study for head of George Dyer is actually featured in the movie, Inception, but that’s another story. The director has said that when he is unable to find the words or dialogue to express an emotion or idea he turns to art. He particularly loves the sense of chaos, bleakness, and emotional discomfort that Bacon can express through brushwork. Now while Heath Ledger’s embodiment of the joker is unmatched let’s also consider what emotional dimension Bacon’s painting added to the character. By doing a visual comparison, you will see how Christopher transposed the violent colors and the bleeding streaks of paint from Bacon’s painting to create this messy, striated, and manic makeup that distorts Ledgers features and creates a sense of psychological discomfort. The painting inspired a more textured threatening and uncomfortable villain.
