originally published 3/1/1994

Art critic and sculptor Ted Prescott discusses the work of British realist painter Lucian Freud (notably, the grandson of Sigmund Freud). Once hailed by critic Robert Hughes as the greatest living realist painter, Lucian Freud developed a signature style of portraying human figures — often naked — in unflattering poses, using thick, drab paint and subdued colors. These pieces strike viewers as startling, merciless, and subtly confrontational, causing viewers to wonder whether Freud has crossed a line in portraying them without empathy. Yet Prescott explains that their validity lies in the painter’s sincere, unironic probing of the complexities and frailties of his models’ lives. His subjects seem to reveal a spiritual weariness and isolation. It is this quality, Prescott says, that makes Freud’s paintings representative of our cultural moment.

This interview was first published on Volume 7 of the Mars Hill Tapes. It is part of a series of Archive Features on the human body that were produced in late October 2024. On the Archive Features page, sort the order by “Newest features first” to find this group of features.

8 minutes

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