The artwork “Annabel Sleeping” by Lucian Freud was completed between 1987 and 1988 and is an oil on canvas painting that falls within the Expressionist movement. The dimensions of this genre painting are 38.8 x 56 cm, and it is part of a private collection. The work captures a figure in a state of repose, emphasizing the artist’s characteristic focus on the human form and the textural quality of flesh.
In the artwork, a figure is depicted lying down, seemingly in deep sleep. Only the back of the figure’s body is visible to the viewer. The individual appears to be wearing a pale blue garment that loosely drapes over the body, revealing the figure’s contours and the folds of the fabric. The painting is meticulous in rendering the tones and textures of the skin and the cloth, showcasing Freud’s dedication to the fine details and the complex interplay of light and shadow.
Lucian Freud’s technique in this artwork involves a rich application of paint, creating a tangible sense of volume and a palpable presence of the sleeping figure. The gentle modulation of colors emphasizes the naturalistic portrayal, reflecting the artist’s intimate and unflinching observation of his subject. The quiet intimacy of the scene is underscored by the careful, almost sculptural rendering of the body against a neutral background, inviting contemplation on the nature of slumber and the vulnerability of the human form at rest.
