Head of E.O.W. 

Frank Auerbach, a Jewish émigré from Nazi Germany, made this portrait, Head of E.O.W., using oil on board, in London. His distinctive style, characterised by thick impasto, reflects a post-war desire to rebuild and remake both literally and figuratively. Auerbach belonged to the School of London, a group of figurative painters who rejected the dominance of abstract expressionism. They prioritised the human figure at a time when art institutions were heavily invested in abstraction. In this context, Auerbach's choice of subject and style becomes a statement. He depicts a sitter repeatedly, obsessively building up layers of paint. This repetitive process mirrors the daily grind and the struggle for meaning in a post-war world. Auerbach's art challenges the prevailing norms of the time, pushing the boundaries of what painting could be. The interpretation of art requires a deep understanding of its social and institutional context. Art history offers the resources to understand the complex interplay between artist, artwork, and society.