Man's head – Portrait I

Lucian Freud British, born Germany

1959–60

Not on view

The mid- to late-1950s marked a decisive shift in Freud’s paintings, when he moved away from stark, flattened portraits and turned to fleshy explorations of the human face. This was partly due to his friendship with the artist Francis Bacon, whom he met in the late 1940s and whose thick, loose style of painting motivated Freud to change direction. He also started to paint while standing up, freeing his arms to make thicker and more expressive marks, as evident in this canvas. Man’s head – Portrait I is one of a number of closely cropped portraits made during this transitional period. The artist carefully observed his models, usually family and friends, in order to capture an aspect of their inner character. Here, Freud sensitively portrays the full lips, chiseled face, unruly hair and pensive expression of the sitter.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Man's head – Portrait I
Artist: Lucian Freud (British (born Germany), Berlin 1922–2011 London)
Date: 1959–60
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 22 × 22 in. (55.9 × 55.9 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Gift of Drue Heinz Trust, 2018
Object Number: 2018.651.3
Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

More Artwork

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In the same medium

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Head and Shoulders of a Girl

Multiple artists/makers

1990

Kai, Lucian Freud British, born Germany, Etching — Kai
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Ill in Paris, Lucian Freud British, born Germany, Etching — Ill in Paris
Lucian Freud
1948

Man Posing, Lucian Freud British, born Germany, Etching — Man Posing
Multiple artists/makers
1985, published 1986

Seated Man Smoking, Lucian Freud British, born Germany, Pen and black ink on paper — Seated Man Smoking
Lucian Freud
1942

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