12. # FRANCIS BACON (1909-1992) AND MICHEL LEIRIS (1901-1990) Miroir de la Tauromachie, 1990 (Sabatier, 29-30) The complete set of four colour lithographs on Arches wove paper, with title, justification and text in French by Michel Leiris, each lithograph signed in pencil, printed on folded sheets with leterpress on the inside pages, copy number 59 of the edition of 150 Published by Galerie Lelong, Paris Printed by Mourlot, Paris Presented in its original cloth-covered slipcase with original title 51 x 38.5 x 43 cm with slipcase Provenance Collection of a Parisian bibliophile The theme of bullfighting held a special place in Bacon's work. Although best known for his portraits and triptychs, Bacon was deeply influenced by Spanish culture and bullfighting, which he saw as a metaphor for existential struggle and the human condition. This shared fascination with Leiris, a bullfighting enthusiast, gave rise to a unique artistic synergy in Miroir de la Tauromachie. The creative process was meticulous: the lithographs were printed on folded sheets, with Leiris's text in typography on the inside pages, creating a visual and literary dialogue between image and word. This collaboration between Bacon, Leiris, the Galerie Lelong and the Atelier Mourlot illustrates the importance of interdisciplinarity in art, where the fusion of literature, the visual arts and the craft of printing results in a work of exceptional richness.