“After Breakfast” is an oil on canvas painting created by Lucian Freud in 2001. This work is part of the Expressionism movement and belongs to the genre of nude painting (nu). Currently, the artwork is held in a private collection and is recognized for its distinctive and introspective portrayal of the human form.
In the artwork, a female figure is depicted lying nude on a bed. The composition is marked by Freud’s characteristic thick, textured brushstrokes which impart a sense of immediacy and realism to the scene. The woman is shown in a vulnerable and intimate pose, curled up on her side with a hand resting near her head and the other arm draped across her body. The surrounding environment, indicated by the wooden floor and the white sheets beneath her, provides a stark, yet subdued backdrop that enhances the focus on the figure’s form. The use of light and shadow, as well as the attention to the naturalistic depiction of the human body, underscores Freud’s commitment to capturing the raw physicality and psychological depth of his subjects.
