Home / Authors / Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud Quotes

Painter

Lucian Freud, born on December 8, 1922 in Berlin, Germany, was a renowned British painter. Known for his profound depictions of human portraits, his works showcased the complexity and psychological states of individuals. Freud's painting style is unique, characterized by his fine brushstrokes and rich color layers. His works have earned high acclaim in the art world and have had a profound impact on contemporary art.

Filter quotes by topic

All Artist Painting Painter Art Giving Looks Persons Ifs Models Paint People Facts Feelings Felt Flesh I Can Use Want Body Colour

Famous Lucian Freud Quotes

“A painter's tastes must grow out of what so obsesses him in life that he never has to ask himself what it is suitable for him to do in art.”

Art Artist Asks Grows Taste Obsession Painter Suitable

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“A painter must think of everything he sees as being there entirely for his own use and pleasure.”

Thinking Use Pleasure Painter Being There

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“A moment of complete happiness never occurs in the creation of a work of art. The promise of it is felt in the act of creation but disappears towards the completion of the work. For it is then the painter realises that it is only a picture he is painting. Until then he had almost dared to hope the picture might spring to life.”

Art Moments Might Felt Creation Painting Promise Spring Disappear Painter Works Of Art Realising Dissatisfaction Completion Complete Happiness

Author:Lucian Freud

“Were it not for this [dissatisfaction], the perfect painting might be painted, on the completion of which the painter could retire. It is this great insufficiency that drives him on. The process of creation becomes necessary to the painter perhaps more than it is in the picture. The process is in fact habit-forming.”

Facts Might Process Perfect Creation Painting Habit Painter Retiring Dissatisfaction Completion Insufficiency

Author:Lucian Freud

“If all the qualities which a painter took from the model for his picture were really taken, no person could be painted twice.”

Ifs Persons Quality Taken Models Painter

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“I think half the point of painting a picture is that you don't know what will happen... that if painters did know what was going to happen they wouldn't bother to do it.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Happens Half Painting Painter Bother Painting A Picture

Author:Lucian Freud

“The painter's obsession with his subject is all that he needs to drive him to work.”

Needs Artist Subjects Obsession Painter

Author:Lucian Freud

“The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh. The effect that they make in space is as bound up with them as might be their colour or smell ... Therefore the painter must be as concerned with the air surrounding his subject as with the subject itself. It is through observation and perception of atmosphere that he can register the feeling that he wishes his painting to give out.”

Giving Persons Feelings Might Given Wish Space Air Subjects Effects Objects Painting Perception Concerned Bounds Smell Flesh Painter Observation Atmosphere Colour Register Auras

Author:Lucian Freud

“The painter must give a completely free rein to any feeling or sensations he may have and reject nothing to which he is naturally drawn.”

Giving May Feelings Artist Painter Rejects Sensations Reins

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“The model should only serve the very private function for the painter of providing the starting point for his excitement”

Should Artist Models Function Starting Painter Excitement Providing Starting Point

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“The process of creation becomes necessary to the painter perhaps more than is the picture. The process in fact is habit-forming”

Facts Process Creation Habit Painter

Book:Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

Source: Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er Jahre

“The painter makes real to others his innermost feelings about all that he cares for. A secret becomes known to everyone who views the picture through the intensity with which it is felt.”

Art Real Feelings Care Felt Views Secret Known Painting Expression Painter Intensity

Author:Lucian Freud

About the Author

Born: December 8, 1922
Died: July 20, 2011
Known for: Painter
Quotes: 48

Books & Sources

Lucian Freud: naked portraits : Werke der 40er bis 90er JahreRelated source material

Lucian FreudRelated source material

Lucian Freud: catalogue of an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London, 25 January-3 March 1974 ... and at 3 other galleries, 6 April-23 June 1974Related source material

Lucian Freud: early works : Scottish National Gallery of Modern ArtRelated source material

The artist's eye: Lucian Freud : an exhibition of National Gallery Paintings selected by the artist 17 June - 16 August 1987Related source material

Similar Authors

Georg BaselitzBrowse related quotes
Pablo PicassoBrowse related quotes
Pierre-Auguste RenoirBrowse related quotes
Paul CezanneBrowse related quotes
Gerhard RichterBrowse related quotes
Ad ReinhardtBrowse related quotes
Caio FonsecaBrowse related quotes
Philip GustonBrowse related quotes
Edgar DegasBrowse related quotes
Jackson PollockBrowse related quotes