Get to know the master figurative painter Lucian Freud who depicted
humanity with a poet's gaze and a perfectionist's eye for detail.
Lucian Freud dedicated his life to portraying the people in his world
without flattery or refinement. Although his technique and style evolved
tremendously over the decades, Freud never wavered in his uncompromising
standards or unsentimental approach to his subjects. This introduction
to Freud's life and oeuvre opens with an illuminating essay that
explores how Freud's adherence to realism and focus on the human figure
moved him in and out of the spotlight until the 1980s when renewed
international interest in painting and figuration gave his work a new
significance. Stunning reproductions of key works are presented
chronologically, allowing readers to see how Freud's brushwork,
composition, and use of light evolved over the decades. Whether he was
painting members of the royal family or the cashier at a London
nightclub, Freud imbued his portraits with psychological tension,
humanity, and a profound interest in the relationship between painter
and model.