At the Louisiana Museum: Lucian Freud's unvarnished portraits

The Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk, Denmark, is currently hosting a major exhibition dedicated to the works of the renowned British artist Lucian Freud. Titled 'Lucian Freud. All is portrait,' the exhibition delves into Freud's distinctive approach to portraiture, presenting his subjects as unvarnished beings.

Freud, the grandson of psychoanalysis pioneer Sigmund Freud, was celebrated for his uncompromising and often raw depiction of the human form and psyche. His canvases are filled with portraits of people, but also extend to animals, potted plants, and even intimate objects, suggesting a deeply personal connection to his subjects. The exhibition highlights his complex life, marked by a gambling addiction and a series of relationships with numerous women and children.

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Lucian Freud painted and drew us humans as unadulterated animals. Everything is a self-portrait; dogs, potted plants, lovers, bookies, mother.

Despite his reputation as an enfant terrible, Freud possessed a considerable charm and magnetic attraction. This allure was so potent that even prominent artists like David Hockney agreed to sit for him, with Hockney posing for more than 120 hours. For those close to Freud, modeling for him was not merely an artistic act but a way to be intimately involved in his uncompromising life.

The exhibition explores how Freud painted and drew people as "unadulterated animals," suggesting a primal honesty in his work. Each piece, whether a self-portrait or a depiction of a lover, bookie, or his mother, is presented as a form of self-exploration. The collection offers a comprehensive look at his career, emphasizing his unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects with striking realism and psychological depth.

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Being a model for Lucian Freud was, for his close associates, a way of being part of his uncompromising life.