AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW OF THE WORK OF LUCIAN FREUD

Lucian Freud is a German born, British artist who is widely recognised for his works on the human form. He produced rugged, true to life imagery that portrays the human figure in a naked display of flesh and figure that captures the models deepest features and feelings.

The models that are portrayed in Freud’s works are usually acquaintances or of the artist. This allows Freud to capture the character of the specific individual and produce an image that truly replicates their feelings and thoughts through the expressions of the face and figure. This is the source of the emotive power of Freud’s work. Although quite contrary Freud also pushes himself to negate any feelings and emotional connection to the subject and focuses on the flows and folds of flesh, these two factors combine to produce powerful imagery of the human form that are well textured and detailed anatomically but also have a sense of emotion, feeling and flow.

Freud proclaims he is a biologist and his deep knowledge of the human form is prominent in his work. It is as if Freud dissects the form of the individual he is capturing and emphasises their most prominent features, whether it be imperfections in the skin, extruding features, deep wrinkles or obscure body forms.

Freud utilises a small variety of media in his work, using pencil and oil painting as the main tools of his craft. Freud’s pencil work displays the harsh folds and wrinkles in the flesh with great depth, using strong, bold lines and tone to define these features. Freud’s oil work replicates this same effect using muted colours, tone and shape that blend the character with its surroundings. This produces raw imagery that focuses on the flaws in flesh and emboldens them to be the focal point of the imagery.        

Freud is a developing artist that has adapted and evolved his work throughout his career, producing captivating and powerful imagery on the human form.