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An image of After Chardin by Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud

(Germany, England 08 Dec 1922–20 Jul 2011)

Title
After Chardin
Year
2000
Media category
Print
Materials used
etching on Somerset textured white paper
Edition
35/46
Dimensions

59.7 x 73.0cm platemark; 78.0 x 96.0cm sheet

Signature & date
Signed l.r. sheet, pencil "L.F.". Not dated.
Credit
Gift of Margaret Olley 2000
Accession number
555.2000
Copyright
© Lucian Freud
Location
Not on display
Further information

This etching is based on an oil painting by Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin entitled 'The young schoolmistress' c.1735-6.

Freud selected this work by Chardin after he had been invited by the National Gallery London to respond to a painting in the permanent collection with the resulting work to be included, together with that of 23 other contemporary artists, in the exhibition, 'Encounters: New Art from Old' at the National Gallery London in 2000.

Freud was inspired to make two painted versions and one etched interpretation of Chardin. The etching (like the painted versions) and their 18th-century prototype shows the tender relationship between a child and his young schoolmistress, studying sheets of paper on a bureau top, though Freud has omitted the needle-like pointer from the schoolmistress's hand. Freud also draws attention to the girl's ear. He believes that Chardin painted here the most beautiful ear in art.

Bibliography (5)

Margaret Olley (Australia, b.1923, d.2011) (Author), Jeffrey Smart (Italy; Australia, b.1921) (Author), Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Director), Christine France (Australia) (Co-ordinator), Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart selections, Sydney, 2002. NOTE: No catalogue numbers; Margaret Olley selection.

'Freudian etchings and other revelations' by Peter Raissis, pg.22-23, Look Aug 2001, Aug 2001, 22 (illus.), 23.

Peter Raissis (Australia) (Author), Whistler to Freud: Etchings in Great Britain, Domain, 2001. cat.no. 34

Richard Morphet (England) (Author), Robert Rosenblum (Author), Encounters: new art from old, London, 2000, 132 (illus.). no. 2

'A physical truth: What Lucian Freud sees in Chardin', by Martin Gayford, pg.74-77, Modern Painters Summer 2000, Summer 2000, 74, 76 (illus.).

Exhibition history (2)

Whistler to Freud: etching in Great Britain, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 24 Aug 2001–11 Nov 2001.

Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart (2002), S.H. Ervin Gallery, 12 Jan 2002–24 Feb 2002.