Lucian Freud, a well-known painter in the neo-figurative style, is famous for his expressive portraits and self-portraits. One of his best-known works is Naked Girl Asleep II, completed in 1968. The oil on canvas painting measures 55.8×55.8 cms and is part of a private collection.
The painting depicts a sleeping nude woman, which was an unusual subject for its time as it portrays women differently from traditional depictions as objects of desire. This unique angle in Freud’s work made him stand out from other artists of the era.
Freud’s paintings often depict raw human emotions and portray the subjects realistically rather than idealistically. Naked Girl Asleep II showcases this characteristic of his work as well, capturing the vulnerability and peacefulness associated with sleep.
It’s worth noting that Freud’s painting Benefits Supervisor Sleeping sold for $33.6 million in 2008, becoming the highest ever recorded sale price for a living artist (until 2012). It shows how valuable his work has become over time and cements his position as one of the greatest figurative painters of all time.