The artwork “Painter and model” was crafted by Lucian Freud between the years 1986 and 1987. This oil on canvas measures 159.6 by 120.7 centimeters and is considered a genre painting within the Expressionist movement. The piece is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork exhibits a striking composition focusing on two figures, the painter and their model within an intimate studio setting. The painter, positioned on the left, is holding a palette and brushes, attentively observing the model, who is depicted lounging dispassionately on an upholstered brown sofa. The model’s pose is relaxed and somewhat reclined, offering a sense of candid vulnerability that is central to the theme of the painting.
Freud’s vigorous and textured application of paint lends a visceral and tactile quality to the scene, highlighting the physical presence of both figures. The background is somewhat sparse, with a window and what appears to be a painting or a mirror on the wall, directing the viewer’s attention firmly on the interaction between the artist and their subject. The floor hosts a scattering of discarded paint tubes and brushes, adding to the authenticity of the setting.
The color palette employed by Freud is rich yet muted; earthy tones dominate the composition with particular emphasis on the flesh, imbuing the work with a sense of warmth and immediacy. The interplay of light and shadow enhances the three-dimensionality of the figures and emphasizes the psychological intensity for which Freud’s portraiture work is known.
Overall, the artwork is a complex exploration of the dynamic between creator and muse, rendered with Freud’s characteristic impasto technique and psychological depth.
