Girl with her Eyes Closed 1944

This is Lucian Freud’s 'Girl with her Eyes Closed', and it's probably watercolour or gouache on paper. I imagine Freud making this, quickly, wet-on-wet, maybe in one sitting. I sympathize with Lucian here, trying to get at the essence of the sitter. He must have been thinking about simplifying the planes of the face and the light as it falls. The green gives it some atmosphere. There’s a quick confidence to the application of the paint, but it also feels exploratory, with the brushstrokes building up the form. Look at that nose – it’s all angles and shadows, drawn with a few bold strokes. And the closed eyes are so serene, it's like the girl is in her own world, oblivious to Freud's scrutiny! Painters, we’re always looking at each other’s work, picking up ideas, and pushing them further. Freud certainly looked at some Cézanne, and maybe even at some folk art. It's all part of the conversation. Ultimately, painting is about expression, where ambiguity and uncertainty are gifts, aren't they? It’s an open invitation to find your own story in the work.