Name: Head And Shoulders
Brand: Lucian Freud
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of Lucian Freud’s signed Head And Shoulders, an etching from 1982, is estimated to be worth between £3,900 and £6,000. This work has an auction history of seven total sales since its entry to the market on 21st June 2004. This is a rare artwork with an auction history of seven total sales since its entry to the market on 21st June 2004. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 20.

Meaning & Analysis

Head And Shoulders by Lucian Freud is an etching from 1982, marking a significant return to larger portraits in his printmaking. Crafted on Somerset wove paper, this artwork captures an intimate and unflinching depiction of the human form, characteristic of Freud's intense exploration of his subjects.

In Lucian Freud’s Head and Shoulders, the subject’s lowered gaze and restrained expression draw the viewer into a moment of quiet introspection - an atmosphere Freud often pursued in his portraits. The reduced plate size brings added focus to the sitter’s features, emphasising the immediacy of the encounter. Created in the 1980s, the work reflects a broader cultural shift towards psychological depth and self-examination.

Famed for his representations of the human form, Lucian Freud is one of the 20th Century's most celebrated artists. The grandson of psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, the artist confronts the psychological depth and bare complexities of the human body. From his early works to his celebrated nudes and portraits, Freud's canvases resonate with an almost tactile intensity, capturing the essence of his subjects with unwavering honesty. Freud painted only himself, close friends, and family, which floods his work with an intimacy that is felt by the viewer. His pursuit of honesty through portraiture shaped the trajectory of figurative art in the 20th century.