Lucian Freud Self Portrait with Black Eye ~ Any Good ?
Lucian Freud’s Self-Portrait with Black Eye ~ is it any good ?
The picture itself is coming up for auction, which in itself accounts for much of the self-generated publicity I suspect, and is expected to fetch between £3 and £4 million !
A lot of money, but then good art is expensive - the question is . . .
Is this painting an example of good art ?
Is Lucian Freud’s painting of himself with a Black Eye an example of good art ? Or, for the investor, good value even ?
Art is subjective, that much is obvious, so opinions on the artistic merit of the picture to the left are bound to be divided.
I myself, for what it is worth, don’t hold it in great esteem. I don’t say it’s rubbish but I’m struggling to see it as ‘great art’ !
Does it really need artistic merit though ? For several million pounds one might imagine it ought to but there is every likelihood that the new owner will be buying it for investment potential rather than the joy of looking at it every day.
We’ve been here before with Lucian Freud and his Benefits Supervisor Sleeping painting which I think Roman Abramovich paid $33 million for !
You could argue all day as to whether you think Freud’s work is truly great or that it is worth the huge sums mentioned but there is one point I would seek to emphasise:
He is a living artist !
The world’s greatest painters, who are now long gone, won’t be painting any more, few, if any, serious works are unknown and waiting to be discovered so supply and demand comes into the equation - there will be no more and most of those known will never see the open market.
In this case plenty more could hit the market, Lucian Freud could have a lock up full of these ! That makes investment risky in my book.
But going back to the artistic merit of the painting I fail to find it inspiring - it doesn’t move me in the way great art should.
Is it even technically that great a work ?
Possibly I show my ignorance, which wouldn’t be a first, but I remain unconvinced.
I wonder just what impact the name Lucian Freud has on the perceived value just as the impact of one day selling it for more will have on the people who bid for it when it comes up for auction in Sotheby’s.
I’d be interested in any and all opinions, whatever they may be, on this painting and its merits.
How inspired are you by a self-portrait of Lucian Freud after he’d had an altercation with a taxi driver ?
Artistically Yours
Rod
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Cid said,
January 20, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
Rod,
It’s a ‘gutsy’ performance of a painting…. bold and honest but I think the name draws a crowd and the money. I am easily bored by self portraits but I can’t say I don’t like it, if it were mine however, I’d sell it and buy other paintings etc whose subject matter is more to my taste.
On the other side of a letter box in a dodgy area of town perhaps this would scare off any would-be intruders?
Have you ever had your portrait painted?
Cid
Rod said,
January 20, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
Cid,
It’ll be interesting to see how time treats this artist. Of course it’s always said that an artist only knows real success when he’s dead - I suspect this could be the reverse - so much of the talk is about the fact he is a ‘living artist’
Cheers
Rod
Amiguru said,
January 22, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
Rod,
I think Lucian put a lot into this painting; it’s strong and in-your-face,
technically solid, emotionally stolid yet soul-baring, powerful and confidently laconic. Who cares what it sells for? Not I, money is irrelevant when considering whether it is ‘good art’ or not; nor is the question in the first place. Art is art, a person’s expression, a reflection, ( 
not again!)
For me, his fame and, or, his fortune matter not. In this case I like it, but that doesn’t matter to the world - it’s a personal thing. It doesn’t do as much for me though as his ‘Jobcentre Muse’ which is so cleverly done and ticks most of my boxes
Regards,
le
N
Rod said,
January 23, 2010 @ 9:31 am
Neville,
thanks for that, especially as it comes out in favour of the picture as it were.
I know it’s a personal thing and also a tutored eye (which I don’t really have - good aesthetic eye but not artistic) I do try but some things just don’t seem to impress whilst others immediately do.
I think the money aspect does come into it as it’s the only possible direct measure that can be used.
Not only against other artists but also when comparing work by the same artist.
Best
Rod