Head of Gerda Boehm 

Frank Auerbach created this portrait of Gerda Boehm using oil paint. Auerbach, who arrived in Britain as a refugee from Nazi Germany, has spent his career in London, and his heavily textured portraits tell us something about the artistic institutions that formed him and the cultural context in which he operated. Auerbach studied at the Royal College of Art where he was taught by David Bomberg whose work has been described as ‘spiritual in materialism’. Bomberg encouraged his students to focus on the present moment when developing their artwork. Auerbach has a distinctive style and works within the tradition of expressionism. He is known for applying paint in thick layers to the canvas. We can consider how Auerbach reflects the anxiety of post-war Britain through his impasto technique. The study and interpretation of artworks like this involves archival research into the artist's life, engagement with art criticism, and an awareness of the prevailing social and political conditions of the time.