Head on a Green Sofa 1961

Lucian Freud painted 'Head on a Green Sofa' with oil on canvas, though we can't be sure exactly when. What strikes me is how the process of painting seems so present. It’s like he's building the face and form right in front of us. Up close, you can see how the skin is described with these fleshy, almost sculptural strokes of color. Look at the cheek – it’s not just pink, but a whole range of ochres, reds, and even a touch of green. The paint isn't trying to hide; it's thick, almost topographical. This is a person, yes, but it’s also about the pure physicality of paint. It reminds me of Chaim Soutine, how he used color to suggest form and emotion, and how he loaded his brush with paint like he was attacking the canvas. Freud isn't just showing us a face; he's showing us the raw, vulnerable act of seeing. It feels honest, like a conversation, and one that can keep going, and going.