Portrait Head I
Portrait Head I
Signed Print
Lucian Freud
£4,150-£6,000Value Indicator
$8,500-$12,500 Value Indicator
$7,500-$11,000 Value Indicator
¥40,000-¥60,000 Value Indicator
€4,850-€7,000 Value Indicator
$45,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
¥790,000-¥1,140,000 Value Indicator
$5,500-$8,000 Value Indicator
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73 x 57cm, Edition of 46, Etching
Medium: Etching
Edition size: 46
Year: 2001
Size: H 73cm x W 57cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
Last Auction: December 2024
Value Trend:
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Meaning & Analysis
Lucian Freud’s Portrait Head I (2001) is an etching that presents a close view of a female sitter, rendered with Freud’s typical focus on surface, weight, and psychological presence. The figure is shown frontally, her expression restrained, with eyes slightly downcast and lips closed. The hair and striped scarf are drawn with particular attention, creating contrast with the more open handling of the face.
In Lucian Freud’s Portrait Head I, the etched lines are densely layered, especially around the eyes and mouth, where subtle variations in tone suggest both texture and mood. Freud’s interest lies not in idealisation but in close observation - the sitter appears absorbed in her own thoughts, with an inward-facing gaze. The work continues Freud’s preoccupation with direct portraiture, and reflects his engagement with the subtle nuances of human flesh and expression.
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.