A painting of a fat lady on a couch...

[jlunt]

@buddhu

This thread makes me curious… Is LF generally known in the US? Or is it just the money that has brought this painting to the notice of the ‘Sex in the City’ watching public?

I’m sorry, buddhu, but as an American citizen, I am extremely offended by the implication. I have never watched “Sex In The City.” (As I recall it was an HBO series, and under the Bush economy, I couldn’t afford HBO. Now “Three’s Company”…)

[dwest]

@buddhu

Of course, it doesn’t - and I’d be surprised if anyone seriously thought that was the reason for the interest in LF’s work.

This thread makes me curious… Is LF generally known in the US? Or is it just the money that has brought this painting to the notice of the ‘Sex in the City’ watching public?

I actually think this is one of Freud’s more appealing pictures. Some of the portraits are, like, really harsh.

LF doesn’t specialise in pretty, nor in impenetrable abstraction that any bluffer could sell. Who, in their right mind would paint this stuff for any cynical or commercial reason?

It may not be pretty (and apart from this expensive one, is Freud even fashionable?), but I’d make room for it.

An interesting pic of a real person. Now that is what LF does.

As an American who has done a fair amount of published biological realist, super-realist, illustrative work I have been familiar with Freud’s work for a long time as are a heck of a lot of other Americans who appreciate good art, especially realism. But Freud’s family history is all part of the package, it is inseparatable in spite of/or in addition to, his exceptional talent.

[cowtime]

I have no idea why this particular painting is worth that much money.

One reason could be that it is an excellent work of art…

I don’t find the subject matter appealing(although I do love the title), but as someone who paints on occasion, I have great respect for the skill and talent involved.

I like this self-portrait with his two kids-

[Lambchop]

Well, he’s a realist painter . . . what would you expect? It’s definitely arresting and has a depth that holds your interest. It’s very human.

What he does with the money is his darned business. Isn’t there some saying or other about removing the plank from one’s own eye before going on about the gnat in someone else’s?

I hope, though, that he does spend a bit of it on a new couch. Eww.

[dwest]

Actually “buddhu” do you know who sold, not the auction house, the work? Was it Freud or was the work owned by someone else? My late BIL’s work increased by easily 50% after his death but of course my sister owns very little of his work and none that she would sell. I can’t imagine Freud hung on to a piece that size since he finished it.

[Nanohedron]

@buddhu

I actually think this is one of Freud’s more appealing pictures. Some of the portraits are, like, really harsh.

LF doesn’t specialise in pretty, nor in impenetrable abstraction that any bluffer could sell. Who, in their right mind would paint this stuff for any cynical or commercial reason?

It may not be pretty (and apart from this expensive one, is Freud even fashionable?), but I’d make room for it.

An interesting pic of a real person. Now that is what LF does.

I have no idea if Lucian Freud is fashionable, nor do I care. I like that painting.

[emmline]

@Nanohedron

@buddhu

I actually think this is one of Freud’s more appealing pictures. Some of the portraits are, like, really harsh.

LF doesn’t specialise in pretty, nor in impenetrable abstraction that any bluffer could sell. Who, in their right mind would paint this stuff for any cynical or commercial reason?

It may not be pretty (and apart from this expensive one, is Freud even fashionable?), but I’d make room for it.

An interesting pic of a real person. Now that is what LF does.

I have no idea if Lucian Freud is fashionable, nor do I care. I like that painting.

Then you should have been at Christie’s, holding your number high!

[pixyy]

Investment purchase indeed.
I could not imagine having a painting like that in my living room

We went to see Freud’s exhibition here last winter.
Some of these canvasses are huge and like someone else mentioned the portraits are harsh at best. Walking through the gallery rooms was actually quite intimidating and fascinating at the same time.
In connection with the opening there was a documentary on danish tv about LF’s models and their experience of posing many many hours over months. Many of them described the process as a battles with whatever they were struggling with in their lives. They had only themselves and time during the posing. They made it sound like psychotherapy without the talking, which is funny, 'cause it’s Freud

My impression is that LF does not bother that much about cash, but I could be wrong…

[buddhu]

@Nanohedron

@buddhu

I actually think this is one of Freud’s more appealing pictures. Some of the portraits are, like, really harsh.

LF doesn’t specialise in pretty, nor in impenetrable abstraction that any bluffer could sell. Who, in their right mind would paint this stuff for any cynical or commercial reason?

It may not be pretty (and apart from this expensive one, is Freud even fashionable?), but I’d make room for it.

An interesting pic of a real person. Now that is what LF does.

I have no idea if Lucian Freud is fashionable, nor do I care. I like that painting.

Exactly.

[buddhu]

@dwest

@buddhu

Of course, it doesn’t - and I’d be surprised if anyone seriously thought that was the reason for the interest in LF’s work.

This thread makes me curious… Is LF generally known in the US? Or is it just the money that has brought this painting to the notice of the ‘Sex in the City’ watching public?

I actually think this is one of Freud’s more appealing pictures. Some of the portraits are, like, really harsh.

LF doesn’t specialise in pretty, nor in impenetrable abstraction that any bluffer could sell. Who, in their right mind would paint this stuff for any cynical or commercial reason?

It may not be pretty (and apart from this expensive one, is Freud even fashionable?), but I’d make room for it.

An interesting pic of a real person. Now that is what LF does.

As an American who has done a fair amount of published biological realist, super-realist, illustrative work I have been familiar with Freud’s work for a long time as are a heck of a lot of other Americans who appreciate good art, especially realism. But Freud’s family history is all part of the package, it is inseparatable in spite of/or in addition to, his exceptional talent.

How is he generally received over there? The works, I mean. Over here I think he’s generally well respected, even if much of his work gives some people a bit of a start. I mean, there are some of his paintings that I really wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley…

I know the history is part of it, but I don’t think he’s ever ridden on that, and I don’t necessarily accept that it has a great bearing on his work.

[dwest]

For folks who appreciate realism his work is/has been well recieved. But in my family the “Great Art Schism” makes religious discussions positively tame so I know some folks who will say he is a great “draftsman.” An insult of the highest order, I say.
His family connection is comparable to the Wyeth family here, multiple talents, accomplished within their own fields. From an economic value point of view it is all part of a package, sorta like “patina”