The artwork entitled “Sunny Morning Eight Legs” was painted by the artist Lucian Freud in 1997. Created using oil on canvas, this painting is an instance of the Expressionist art movement and falls within the genre of nude painting (nu). It is currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, located in Chicago, IL, US.
“Sunny Morning Eight Legs” portrays the raw human form with an unflinching realism that is characteristic of Freud’s style. The painting captures a figure, likely nude, in a relaxed or perhaps post-coital pose alongside a sleeping dog. The intimacy of the scene is enhanced by the tactile quality of the brushwork, which gives a palpable sense of the weight and texture of the flesh. The use of light and shadow adds a sense of volume and form to the bodies, contributing to the overall realism of the piece. What is distinctly notable is the contrast between the undressed human figure and the naturalism of the sleeping dog, with each subject rendered in an equally direct and unidealized manner. The composition’s candid portrayal of nudity and humanity, devoid of glamour or idealism, is a hallmark of Freud’s honest and often confronting approach to figure painting.
