Frank Auerbach

Frank Auerbach is a celebrated German-born British artist known for his powerful and emotive paintings, particularly his expressive portraits and landscapes. Born in Berlin in 1931, Auerbach emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1930s, escaping the rise of Nazism. He became a prominent figure in the London art scene, closely associated with the School of London, alongside artists like Lucian Freud and R.B. Kitaj. Auerbach's works are known for their intense texture and thick impasto, often built up through many layers of paint, reflecting his deep engagement with the physical act of painting.

Auerbach's subjects include both familiar locations in London and portraits of his close friends, often painted from life in a series of sittings over many years. His style has evolved over time, yet his commitment to exploring human emotion and the inner life through abstraction and figuration remains central to his work. His paintings convey a raw intensity, capturing not only the appearance of his subjects but also their psychological essence.

One of Frank Auerbach’s notable quotes is, “Painting is an attempt to discover and preserve the traces of something real, to confront the unknown, to express what cannot be put into words.” This reflects his belief in the ability of painting to explore and convey deep emotional truths, a theme that has been evident throughout his long and celebrated career. Through his powerful work, Auerbach continues to influence contemporary art, maintaining his reputation as one of the great figurative painters of our time.