Lucian Freud’s “Naked Man on a Bed” is a striking etching created in 1987 as part of a limited edition set of 10. Sold at auction in 2012, the artwork fetched GBP 42,050 (€50,209), surpassing the upper estimate by 40%. The etching is signed and numbered (1/2) with the inscription “P.P.” (Printer’s Proof).
Freud was renowned for his realistic portraits of friends and family. His magnifying art technique allowed him to capture human nuances that others often missed. While this piece does not depict anyone connected to him directly, it still showcases his unparalleled ability to imbue even the most mundane elements with emotion.
The exhibition “Lucian Freud: The Self-portraits” highlights seven decades of Freud’s painting and includes several large-scale naked portraits like this one. These paintings show both the artist’s familiarity with his subject matter and his process of grappling with its depiction on canvas. This rare etching serves as an example not only of Freud’s skill but also shows how he used fine lines to create images that are intricate yet candid.
