Frank Auerbach Painter: Mastering Expressive Portraiture in Modern Art

_{Frank Auerbach Painter: Mastering Expressive Portraiture in Modern Art}

Life and Education of Frank Auerbach

Frank Auerbach’s life journey spans from his early childhood in Nazi Germany to becoming one of Britain’s most respected painters. His formative years were shaped by historical trauma and artistic mentorship that would influence his distinctive painting style.

Early Life and the Impact of the Holocaust

Frank Helmut Auerbach was born on April 29, 1931, in Berlin to Jewish parents. His father worked as a lawyer while his mother had studied art. As Nazi persecution of Jews intensified, his parents made the difficult decision to send eight-year-old Frank to England in 1939 via Kindertransport, a rescue effort that saved thousands of Jewish children.

_{E.O.W. on Her Blue Eiderdown III, 1963–1964, by Frank Auerbach}

This proved tragically necessary, as his parents later perished in the Holocaust. In England, Auerbach attended boarding school and became a naturalized British citizen. The profound loss of his parents and homeland would later influence the emotional intensity seen in his paintings.

Artistic Training and Influential Figures

Auerbach’s formal artistic education began at St. Martin’s School of Art in London (1948-1952), followed by studies at the Royal College of Art (1952-1955). During this period, he developed relationships with other significant artists working in London, including Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud.

These connections proved influential as Auerbach became part of a circle of figurative painters working against the dominant abstract trends of the time. He established his studio in Camden, North London, where he would work consistently for decades, often painting the same subjects repeatedly with extraordinary focus and discipline.

Auerbach became known for his rigorous work ethic, sometimes scraping away and repainting canvases numerous times until achieving his desired result.

Artistic Style and Major Works

Frank Auerbach’s distinctive artistic style develops through his methodical approach to painting, marked by heavily textured surfaces and intense scrutiny of his subjects. His work spans portraits of close acquaintances and London landscapes, creating a deeply personal visual language that balances representation and abstraction.

Evolution of Auerbach’s Painting Technique

Auerbach’s painting technique involves a rigorous process of building up and scraping down layers of paint. He often works on a single canvas for months or even years, constantly reworking the surface until he achieves his desired result. This sculptural approach to painting creates deeply textured surfaces that seem to vibrate with energy.

Early in his career, Auerbach was influenced by David Bomberg, whose Borough Road drawing classes he attended. These lessons shaped his understanding of form and structure in painting.

His technique evolved from thick, heavily impastoed surfaces in the 1950s and 1960s to somewhat more fluid handling of paint in later decades. Despite using primarily oil paint, Auerbach occasionally works with acrylic and frequently begins with extensive drawing studies.

Significant Series and Portraits

Auerbach’s portraits represent some of his most powerful works. He typically paints the same sitters repeatedly over many years, including his wife Julia, close friend E.O.W. (Estella Olive West), and fellow artists like Lucian Freud.

_{The House, 2012, by Frank Auerbach}

These portraits aren’t conventional likenesses but psychological studies that capture the essence of his subjects through repeated observation. His relationship with his sitters parallels that of his contemporaries Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, forming a triumvirate of significant British figurative painters.

His portrait series demonstrates remarkable consistency in approach while showing subtle evolutions in style. The intensity of observation creates works that hover between abstraction and figuration, with faces emerging from thickly applied paint.

Landscape and Cityscape Themes

London’s urban landscape features prominently in Auerbach’s work, particularly areas near his Mornington Crescent studio. His “Mornington Crescent Series” documents this North London neighborhood through various seasons and times of day.

Primrose Hill also appears frequently in his work, rendered in his characteristic style that transforms familiar locations into landscapes of emotional and psychological depth. These cityscapes aren’t merely topographical records but expressions of his deep connection to London.

The paintings balance abstract elements with recognizable features, creating tension between representation and expression. His urban scenes typically feature construction sites, railways, and buildings in various states of demolition or construction.

Auerbach’s landscapes reveal his commitment to working directly from life, often completing preliminary drawings on-site before developing paintings in his studio. This direct engagement with his environment produces works that capture not just the appearance but the feeling of place.

Legacy and Exhibitions

_{Sketch for Reclining Figure in the Studio, 1966, by Frank Auerbach}

Frank Auerbach’s impact on the art world extends through major retrospectives and his influence on younger artists. His distinctive style and unwavering commitment to painting have secured his place as one of Britain’s most important post-war artists.

Critical Acclaim and Retrospectives

Auerbach gained significant recognition through several landmark exhibitions. In 1963, he had his first notable solo show, establishing his reputation as a formidable talent. His work represented Britain at the Venice Biennale, showcasing his unique approach to an international audience.

The Royal Academy hosted major retrospectives of his work, allowing viewers to trace the development of his distinctive style over decades. These exhibitions highlighted his intense portraits of regular sitters like Julia Yardley Mills and Estella Olive West, as well as his urban landscapes.

The Courtauld Gallery has been particularly important in preserving and promoting Auerbach’s legacy, housing significant collections of his early charcoal heads from the 1950s and 1960s.

Auerbach’s Influence on Contemporary Art

Auerbach’s approach to depicting the human condition through thickly applied paint has influenced generations of artists. His friendship and artistic dialogue with Leon Kossoff helped shape a distinctive London School of painters focused on the figure and urban landscape.

_{Drawing for Mornington Crescent, circa 1970}

Many contemporary artists cite Auerbach’s dedication to his subjects—repeatedly painting the same people and places—as inspirational. His garden scenes and portraits demonstrate how persistent observation can reveal deeper truths.

Auerbach’s work draws connections to Old Masters while remaining distinctly modern. His paintings command respect for their physical presence and emotional depth. Young painters continue to study his techniques of building and scraping away paint to create works of remarkable intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frank Auerbach’s artistic practice raises many questions about his techniques, style, and influences. His unique approach to painting and his dedicated work ethic have fascinated art enthusiasts for decades.

What techniques did Frank Auerbach use in his paintings?

Frank Auerbach used intensive, labor-intensive painting techniques. He worked primarily with oil paint, though he occasionally used acrylic.

His method involved repeatedly applying thick layers of paint, then scraping them off and starting again. This process could take months or even years for a single painting.

Auerbach worked 365 days a year in his studio, demonstrating remarkable dedication to his craft. Drawing was fundamental to his process, serving as preparation for his paintings.

Can you describe the style of Frank Auerbach’s portraits?

Auerbach’s portraits feature a distinctive fusion of realism, abstraction, and psychological introspection. They are characterized by heavily impastoed surfaces with thick, sculptural paint application.

His portraits often required numerous sittings with the same model. The faces in his works might appear distorted or abstract, yet they capture the essence of his subjects with remarkable psychological depth.

Later in life, Auerbach turned to self-portraiture, applying his intense scrutiny to his own image. His portrait style evolved throughout his career while maintaining his characteristic intensity.

How has Frank Auerbach’s work been received by the art community?

The art community regards Auerbach as a Modern Master. His unique style and dedication have earned him respect among critics and fellow artists alike.

Despite his unconventional approach, Auerbach’s work has been celebrated for its emotional power and technical innovation. His paintings are now highly valued in the art market.

His influence extends beyond British art circles to the international stage, where his work continues to inspire contemporary painters.

What notable exhibitions have featured Frank Auerbach’s drawings?

The Courtauld Gallery has showcased Auerbach’s drawings, highlighting their importance to his artistic process. These exhibitions demonstrated how his drawing practice informed his paintings.

Tate has also featured Auerbach’s work extensively, including exhibitions that explored his working methods and artistic development. His drawings have been recognized as significant works in their own right.

Major retrospectives of Auerbach’s work often include both drawings and finished paintings, showing the relationship between these different aspects of his practice.

How did Frank Auerbach’s early life influence his artwork?

Auerbach’s early life as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany profoundly shaped his artistic sensibility. Arriving in England as a child, his experiences of displacement informed his intense attachment to his adopted home.

London became both his sanctuary and his primary subject matter. The city’s post-war landscape, with its bombing sites and reconstruction, featured prominently in his early works.

His rigorous training at art school under influential teachers helped develop his distinctive approach to painting and drawing.

What impact did Frank Auerbach’s art have on contemporary painting?

Auerbach’s work challenged conventional approaches to representation in painting. His extreme dedication to reworking surfaces influenced how artists think about the painting process.

His distinctive integration of abstract elements with observed reality opened new possibilities for figurative painting. Many contemporary artists cite him as an important influence.

Auerbach’s commitment to painting as a daily practice, regardless of changing art trends, affirmed the continuing value of traditional studio-based work in contemporary art.