Man in a Headscarf (also known as The Procurer) 1954

Lucian Freud made this painting of a man in a headscarf using oil on canvas. The paint handling here is fascinating, because it’s almost like he’s drawing with the paint. Look at the surface, and how the face emerges from a network of fine lines. The subtle modelling around the eyes, nose, and mouth are incredible and the details are built up, layer by layer. It's really a remarkable feat of observational painting. Take a closer look at the headscarf, the colour is almost sickly, an unnatural yellow. It is so striking because it seems so at odds with the earthier tones in the face. This reminds me of Auerbach, another great 20th century painter who used these discordant palettes, which are jarring but so evocative at the same time. It’s these little moments, that make you stop and think, and that’s what makes painting so interesting.