Naked Child Laughing 1963

Lucian Freud painted this small oil on canvas, *Naked Child Laughing*, in an unknown year. The earthy palette and searching lines feel so intimate, like we’re right there in the room with Freud and his sitter. I imagine him circling, studying every contour, every shadow. You can almost feel the weight of the paint, thick and buttery, as he applies it to the canvas. I bet he took weeks, even months, wrestling with the form, scraping back and building up layers. There’s something about the way he’s captured the child’s gaze – inward, reflective. Look at that hand cradling the face, the soft curve of the shoulder. This isn't just about physical likeness; it’s about capturing something deeper, something about vulnerability. I feel like there’s a conversation happening, not just between the artist and the model, but between generations of painters. Each one building on what came before, pushing the boundaries of what paint can do.