A Study Of The Language Of Lucian Freud’s Realist Paintings

Lucian Freud(1922-2011) was a modern British artist who spanned the 20 th and 21 st centuries,and is recognised as one of the greatest realist portrait painters of the 20 th century.Freud turned traditional realist painting on its head and breathed new life into 20 th century modern art.Focusing on realism,this essay uses documentary analysis,photographic analysis and comparative studies to provide an in-depth study of the realist paintings of the artist Lucian Freud.The paper consists of five sections.The first part briefly describes Freud’s life and character traits.The second part attempts to explore the theoretical origins of Freud’s realist style of painting through an evaluation of the socio-cultural wave in which he lived,the "Anglicanism of Existentialism",and the influence of the London School,Sigmund Freud,Stanley Spencer and others on him.The third section seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of Lucian Freud’s realist works in terms of figuration,brushwork,colour and light,and other pictorial language.The fourth section analyses the metaphorical expression of the subconscious,sexual innuendo and hidden emotions presented in his realist works.The fifth section explains the value of Freud’s art and the influence it has had on domestic and international artists.Freud’s realist paintings present a unique pictorial language: exaggerated images,strong brushwork,subdued colours and bright light,and deep metaphorical expressions in his works.The influence of his work is worldwide,represented abroad by Jeanne Saville and Anne Goura,and at home by painters such as Liu Xiaodong and Xin Dongwang.