Frank Auerbach 1976

Lucian Freud painted this portrait of Frank Auerbach, we're not sure when, with oil paint, in his studio. Isn’t it something? The way Freud builds up the surface is just fascinating. It’s all about these thick, juicy strokes of paint, laid down with such deliberate intensity. You can practically feel the weight of each mark. Look at how he models Auerbach’s forehead, each dab of color seems to sculpt the form, giving it this incredible sense of depth. I love the way he uses these almost fleshy pinks and browns to capture Auerbach’s skin tones. It’s unflinching, raw, and real. And there's this tension, right? Between the almost brutal application of paint and the sensitivity of his gaze. It reminds me a little of some of Soutine's portraits, that same kind of visceral energy and emotional intensity. You can feel the weight of the world in every brushstroke.