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Lucian Freud's etchings are characterised by his use of extraordinary compositional devices and the paring down of subject matter, resulting in the viewer being forced to confront the physical person depicted. In Head of a Girl I (lot 16) the viewpoint is slightly raised and the composition cropped close so that one immediately feels intrusive. Conversely, Blond Girl (lot 17) has a monumentality of scale, but the setting shown in the corresponding painting, Blond Girl, Night Portrait, 1981-85, has been removed. In the etching the sitter floats on the white page, thereby also presenting a confrontation devoid of any other detail in to which the viewer can escape. Coupled with the imposition of a blunt and scrutinising gaze is Freud's characteristic exploration of flesh. With extraordinary skill Freud conveys, via a series of hatched and cross hatched lines, the form and feeling of a body. Freud's choice of medium perfectly matches his purpose, and is the reason why his graphic work is now recognised as forming a parallel achievement to his paintings.

Lucian Freud (b. 1922)

Head of a Girl I (Hartley 11)

Details

Lucian Freud (b. 1922)
Head of a Girl I (Hartley 11)
etching, 1982, on wove paper, signed and dedicated V.B. love from in pencil, a proof aside from the edition of 16, published by Marlborough Graphics, Ltd., London, with margins, in good condition, framed
Image 111 x 114 mm., Sheet 210 x 190 mm.

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