Head of E.O.W. IV 

Frank Auerbach, a child refugee from Nazi Germany, made this portrait, Head of E.O.W. IV, using thick, textured paint. Auerbach’s personal history informs how we might interpret this work. The heavy impasto almost obscures the identity of E.O.W., leaving us with a sense of a person struggling to emerge from the chaos of the medium. The monochrome palette adds to the feeling of somber reflection. The visceral nature of the paint creates a tension between representation and abstraction. Auerbach repeatedly painted the same sitters. The repeated sittings allowed him to build a deep understanding and capture something profound about his subjects. "I don't invent, I transform" he said, revealing his process of uncovering rather than constructing an image. This transformation speaks to the complex interplay between artist, sitter, and the historical context that shapes their interactions. Consider how the weight of history and personal experience can be both a burden and a source of profound artistic expression.