Lucian Freud painted many portraits of Sue Tilley, Benefits Supervisor Sleeping being one of them. Find out why. Join the Discord: / discord Support us on Patreon: / thecanvas #arthistory #art
it's rather sad that you get demonetised, while islamist groups openly advocating for murder and defending marrying children are just floating around freely
I had the same impression, looking at the firm muscle tone. But the approach is brutal, not so much honest. The thick, pitted paint of his pictures makes them look like relief sculptures made of putty
She was incorporated in another one of Freud's paintings where she is laid back in couch, the buyer of the painting placed it in his TV room before he sold it off to a private collection. Tilley had preferred it displayed in a room like that because she said mostly while being painted she was kept in a comfortable pose and at rest, as one should be when watching TV.
It's wonderful to see this painting being discussed with the model without prejudice or judgment. There's so much openness and warmth in this video and the topic isn't approached as simply provocative which I love. Thanks!
I think that the naked body has two sides. An innocent and a lustful one. It is interesting that an artist can take what we view as erotic and turn it innocent.
An addition to the experience, I'm a third year medical student, just 2 months ago walked into a hospital after two years of air-conditioned halls and indifferent lectures. There's something whiplash-y abt growing up exposed to polished perfection everywhere in media and then facing the indifference of flesh. In the medical field, beauty goes out the window and is replaced with a manic, fevered desperation for the sanctity of life. 55 years old in a woman is young, too young, exceptionally young. To die at 65 in a country with a life expectancy of 70 is to DIE YOUNG. In the medical field the body is both a cruel, callous entity indifferent to its owner's suffering and also a battle-hardened, manic survivor desperate for you to see tomorrow. Humanity's true nature is in it's fleshy indifference and the fact that we're spoon-fed beauty and attractiveness as the pinnacle of desire is morbidly antithetical to how we are and how we exist. The body is terrifying and disgusting and Lovecraftian and the fact that we worship beauty as fervently as if it's a religion is the horror.
The most profound thing about this piece it's how transparent it is. It comes at you saying "this is what it is" and it doesn't pretend to be nothing more
I instantly love the honesty. Seeing parts of her that looks familiar and that others and me try to hide, just displayed like that. It gives space for realness. And I almost feel like we're not spose to look at them but then we do and that's such a freeing feeling. Not hiding "real" bodies and just exploring and viewing them. Amazing! Love it. Takes away shame and gives room for fascination and love for our bodies.
I don’t think it’s cruel, i find it sobering yet refreshing as these are the bodies that we’re most likely to resonate with. Not Michaelangelo but Lucien’s
I'm glad we have a prolific-enough artist that paints people this way. As an artist I do love idealized figures and I do think people should still paint idealized figures, but I also love just the weird uniqueness of the real bodies I see around me, and love depicting that and seeing that depicted as well.
It reminds me of another amazing naked nudes artist, Alice Neel. I mean, she painted people in general, but her nudes as well as her own nude when she was in her 70s was beautiful just like Lucian's painting. Alice Neel is my favorite artist. You should do a video on her!
PS, my Great grandmom went to the same art school as she did at the same time, I don't know if they knew each other.... But who knows! 😁 My Mimi was an awesome artist also
painting nudes is an interesting topic. i started out drawing back in 2013 because i was a h***y teenager and i wanted to draw nsfw stuff but throughout the years as a studied art and anatomy all that disappeared and it became very academical instead. Now i mostly enjoy drawing old people because you get to draw all the bony landmarks and define muscle insertions, very much different from what i did when i started out when i just wanted to draw attractive anime women.
Great video. What a wonderful perspective to have on these paintings. You’re right, the “sexual nature” of the paintings comes from the viewer, as these paintings are not inherently sexual at all. The way it’s viewed says more about the viewer than Lucien Freud. Wonderful discussion
I saw this image (the thumbnail) on Tumblr, ngl, but I was obsessed with it as soon as I saw it. My mom had always told me I'd look like that when I got older and, seeing that, I don't worry because I know people still paint these bodies. Someone knows these bodies well enough to paint them.
It’s the social and personal discomfort caused by having to observe nudes that subvert normal expectations (which is mostly that nudes MUST be depictions with overt sexual intentions) that lend this terrific painting its power. Paintings like this, executed with the care an in the manner in which Freud did them, make it clear that whatever sexual content is to be found in them (other than the few examples of his work in which his subjects were clearly intimate with each other in some way) comes almost entirely from the viewer. Most of Freud’s work functions in this way, but this painting of Sue is an especially powerful example of it. Thanks for conducting this terrific interview and posting this very interesting video. I’ve always loved Freud’s portraits and his nudes. This is a great exploration of one of his best!
This is so fascinating. The human body will always be a compelling subject for artists and art lovers because it is, fundamentally, us. As a subject, the body is dynamic, skin tones change and have depth, muscles flex and relax, bones show their presence through a veil of flesh. It is us, but it is also just a body. I'd like to see a warm acceptance of the reality of a body in these paintings, but I also love that he was just trying to challenge himself, to present his vision, not his opinion.
Her friendship is just incredible. She looks younger because she is always honest and live in the moment. Flipping humble as well. It just shows that surrounding is paramount in shaping your well being
Freud depicted the reality of his and other humans' bodies. But to say that he "simply" depicted reality is to miss something about how he worked. The nude you showed at 11:14 is not less real. The unreality in that picture isn't the body, which isn't really idealized, but the setting, as if she's among the whitecaps while being on the beach. But the style is "realism", even photo-realism. Freud's style is anything but. He shows a real person's real body and one that's more common among humans (like his own) than among pictures at a gallery. But the style is thick impasto, along with rather random-seeming markings. There's little attempt at making a picture of a person and much more at making an impression of that person. Freud goes well beyond mere realism to real feeling.
You make a very interesting point, but personally I would say the painting at 11:14 is not in the style of realism, but of idealism. Even though the painting itself looks more realistic (which many idealistic paintings often do) both the subject and background are not painted as they are in reality, but changed by the painter to match their idea of perfection or the ideal. Like you said the waves are unrealistic, but they are stunning, and this extends to the subject too. Notice her skin is essentially perfect, and despite the wind of being by the shore her hair drapes behind her to frame her face and upper body. Between the subject and the background you could never see this in real life, so though it looks real, I’d say it’s actually ideal. On the other hand Lucian Freud’s paintings are almost a perfect anti-idealism in style, where the way he paints is not trying to appear realistic the way a photo does, but what Freud is painting is altered as little as possible between what he sees, and what ends up on the canvas. So though you’re very right that Freud’s paintings are not an example of realism in the way that they are painted, they are at the same time a perfect example of realism in what it is that he paints. His subjects are not idealized to match a standard be pleasing to a viewer, they are not abstracted to symbolize anything the artist wishes to represent, and they aren’t directed to tell a story. Freud’s painting are simply what is. They are simply real.
The problem I have with this assessment , is thst you want to endow every single piece with this intentional philosophical significance, and never talk about them as a physical work. Lucien Freaud's work are a testament to the sensual joy of paint. Just as Sue said, these are paintings first and foremost. You could talk about just his application of paint and his use of warm pallettes for an entire video before you even mention the social significance. Painters love the paint itself as much or more than what their works mean, and with Freaud, you miss a great opportunity to discuss a master of applying paint and creating flesh, his obsession, and one of the most common but elusive surfaces in the history of art. Source= am painter. Also thank you for your work and for talking to the model, I loved that.
Gonna quickly watch this before it gets possibly age restricted because the thumbnail deeply intrigued me, as i've never seen such a painting like this before.
Im taking art history for alevel because of you tbh, youre such an inspiration to me and your vids have sort of unlocked this passion for art history and criticism so thank you lol
I love the level of professionalism and sensitivity you have shown while making this video. Your channel is a breath of fresh air. Keep up the great work.
Although I've seen and know very little of Lucian Freud, he's one of those who get stuck in your mind very easily. Great video again! I'd love to see videos about the Renaissance and Baroque though
Thank you for introducing me to these paintings and even more so the perspective of this artist vs the audience. It's something I have experienced often in my own world...I suppose that's just part of the ride and meta-show!
This is superb, I had been on a Lucian Freud documentary binge lately and I had taken from them indications by the artist and his associates that his primary objective with these works was compositional, leaving everything else up to the viewer. There was a definite feeling of, I'll do the painting and you can add or take away whatever you want from it, because my work here is done.
What a wonderful visual essay on these portraits. Your videos are always insightful, and so worthwhile. Thank you for deepening my understanding of art and artists.
I've actually seen a number of Freud's paintings at an exhibition, and I have to agree with your take that they are honest, and that in my opinion is what makes them so interesting.
ive been watching your videos in between my own paintings. your thoughtful analysis and showcasing of these pieces has been an inspiration to experiment more
Got to give this woman kudos for having the courage and confidence to pose and then come on and talk about it. This confirms what I have always thought, people want to read more into art than ever intended by the artists.
I love to stand back and whach my feelings react to a picture of the unexpected! First the emotional System goes on Alarm, "something is wrong!!!" Repulsion, question, rage outrage, disgust.... etc. Then the brain kicks in with the eternal analysis: Symbols? Social critique? Changing if ideale? Hate of women? Contempt of social norms and standards....? An then looking, looking, watching, waiting.... "A Rose, is a Rose,is a Rose." And slowly it hapens: the visual reality overcommes and grows above you. It transcendens us and you see one thing, and one thing only: beauty! It resonates within you. Simple put, it becommes art! I hope thats not to pretencious, but it just happend to me while listening to you. Its such a wonderfull experiance! I love it. 😊 Thank you for the wonderful glimpse into this Artists work, and the Interview with a great woman. 🙏
I haven't heard of this artist before, but I like it quite a bit, because my own style is similar and due to the same reasons. I started all of my art with animals as the subject, because they're what I understand and observe the most, so from sculpture to paintings to animations it was always animals. You don't really feel the need to exagerate or idealize a rendition of an animal, because they are what they are, and to see them any different way would be unrealistic and pushing a weird ideal onto a natural creature. When I got more comfortable with human subjects, I didn't see a reason to change that. Of course in my commissioned work, I had to appeal to the customer, but what I worked on in my own time was different than what I did for rent money. 😂 Anyway, thanks for this introduction! I'll need to look into him more on my own.
I think it's a false dichotomy to say that because Lucian Freud didn't idealise his portraits he therefore painted with a "cruel honesty." I've never seen his paintings as being in any way "ungenerous". And this notion wouldn't have made any sense to the artist himself. Freud is rooted in a tradition of "warts and all" painting stretching back to the Protestant reformation (see Hans Holbein, Rembrandt etc.) In this tradition, there is no need to beautify the world, because it is already intensely beautiful as it is. It is only a question of being receptive to it.
Yeah, when I look at these paintings, they strike me as beautiful (in a broad sense), somehow just capturing the miraculous beauty of reality. It's a completely non-analytical, non-intellectual experience. I think it has something to do with his style. They're not realistic to me at all. A photograph wouldn't work the same magic.
This is life-affirming. That is all i have to say, at least for now. May come back and add a more intelligent response later. But thank you for bringing this artist to my attention. I felt my life and self perception change as i watched this video.
this is my first time commenting on your video but, watching this, i feel like i have to. Your work is so amazing and interesting, i watch all your videos with the same passion that you have making them and i love that as viewers we can feel it. This video is incredible as usual and really moved me, can't wait for your next !
This story is a real testament to how much force simple depiction has in art. We talk about the surprising unintentionality of Freud's subjects, but I just wonder how similar it is for the other side, the side that made this surprising. Can we say that the built up expectation of who gets depicted in art and how they get depicted has this effect? The effect of making people think that painting like Lucian Freud has the intention of attack? It just shows that there is some real force that art has. That what we see in the creation of others is a real and powerful part of the world. No matter how mundane something can be, or how little we notice it, the fact that it's there is imprinted in us. And it makes the mundanity that we don't expect art to show even more powerful.
This how to respond to complaints to Comicsgate, Gamergate and other far right groups within the art world about the alleged "banning" of nudity in art by college students and the so-called "woke mob". Us "wokes" do accept, even love, any forms of nudity in art, games, comics and other mediums. The Gators only want their kind of nudity in any medium, which is basically just impossible beauty standards set by them. Seeing their negative overreaction this year to how sex and nudity are depicted in games like Baldur's Gate, exposes more of their hypocrisy on this issue. As with the nudity in artwork such what's showcased in your video here.
Nudity vs sexualization of children are different things. Balenciaga having a whole line about Panda, eyes one of the most disturbing things you'll ever have to read about, and a school book having an actual diagram of a penis or vagina are massively different to the point of being near opposites. Now I'm sure you'll defend pandas as being cute animals they are. But the meaning is what matters. Just like having basically pornography especially fetish content in schools is psychotic. But idk plenty of bad parents are grooming their children to be gay or whatever their little leftist ideology trophy they want. As no 5 year old or really any 30 year old knows they want to be non binary. It's a fake term made up for mentally ill and lonely people to avoid the topic of their issues and potential sadness. I feel sad that we have no way to help people like this as I'm sure most is from chemical imbalances and cases of childhood abuse. So leaving everything to parents isn't an answer either. But adding fetishes earlier to an already mentally ill people is a horrid idea.
Trans people aren't a fetish. Btw I'm a 24 year old non binary person soooo hello. Dunno if you've ever spoken to a trans person but we exist and always will. Also being gay is natural for almost every animal on the planet, humans included :)
@@vsauce4678i knew I was different when I was 3, and I knew I was a boy when I was 6, when all other children learn what sex, gender expression and the likes actually are. I wasn’t born a boy, but I knew I belonged in the body of one. I didn’t have a computer then. Or a phone. I also knew I was always into men, since I became sexual in my youth I was always attracted to them, never women. So I knew I was a gay man, always. Nobody taught me to be. My depression came from people like YOU. Who make us seem like we’re delusional, and infantilise us. You don’t belong here on the channel, this is a video of acceptance. Not hate. Your life is full of hatred and ignorance. In your case, it’s not bliss.
Can't even watch a video about art without feminists making it about them. The only people involved in gamergate are the ugly women still talking about it. This is all your show. How many reasons have you made up about what it is about now? And yes, there are high beauty standards, just like they have high athletic standards. Feminists are 4s demanding to be treated like Victoria Secret models while expecting men to hit every target. You hypocrites complain about racists but when it comes to your own leaders you turn a blind eye. Kinsey was a baby raper. The Suffragettes were bored elitist, racist terrorists. They didn't want to lower themselves to poor womens work. Their actions affected the lower classes so badly they had to sue the racist elitists. The Suffragettes won with the backing of Capitalistic men. Here bored elite women are still making life difficult for the working class with your virtue signaling luxury activism. They lie to you about the 1950s. It was when the technogical drive of WW2 replaced the help for the middle class with appliances. Much to the chagrin of the Cheuvanists, they were bad at it because they didn't know and created a series of food poisonings and accidents from unregulated equipment. The middle class wasn't unhappy running the house, they were unhappy from doing the helps work. The 50s was the end of traditional households and changed to the consumer driven environment that is still occurring now. Other nonsense lefty propaganda is that the third class was locked up on the Titanic. Never happened. I can do this all day.
@@finnb-anarchyAny male who "trans" after 40 has autogynophulia, they get off by people looking at them dressed as women. I love the cognitive dissonance. If a man wants big boots in a video game, it's bad. But if a man wears oversexualized female body parts to be observed, that is OK. Liberalism,, is a religion. I am a liberal. You are in a cult. It is Quaker Dogma. "God is in everyone " or the "Society of Friends," Also kicked out of England for being insufferable religious extremists. America's first evangelicals. "What is right is right, eve if everyone is against it, what is wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it" ~ William Penn Faith in God was replaced with faith in institutions. You think you have higher moral standards, but it was given to you by The Extreme Protestants. Freedom of Religion, was started by a Quaker woman in England, if you guys weren't the actual misogynist and actually held women up, that fact would be promoted. Liberalism is about consent, not equity, and it falls in the center. The far right are anarchists. Liberal and Libertarian both begin with liber or Libre which is Freedom in Latin. Anything collectivist is ideologically contradictory. That means the nazis, the socialists are still all yours, which is why you obsess about identity. Because calling someone an anarchist isn't the same bite.
The mirror you've held up has been so very uplifting. Normally, my inner dialogue is sadistically critical; for once I've seen something good within me. Nudes of idealized women always cause me to squirm inwardly. It can feel impossible as a woman to be seen without being sexualized from every direction. Instead of being compared to someone like Emily Dickinson in my youth, I was compared to Jessica Rabbit. From the beginning of this video the nudes you exhibited felt familial and intimate. As fast as scent-memory, I was a small child again, waiting as my mother and grandmother dressed for the day in the early morning hours. The inner world of family and women bathed in the warm light of home. Then you spoke of the discomfort others had for Lucian's work and I was actually proud of myself, because his work invoked a profound response within me rather than that of revulsion. Thank you so much for helping me to feel good about who I am, and for introducing me to such a brilliant painter. You have truly enriched my life.
We can never assume that the artist is trying to depict the model in any particular way. The artist is painting a picture, and the model is a resource, a tool, an inspitation. It's like in music: the band plays the song, but the producer makes the record. It's important to see the difference
I too was anticipating your commentary on Lucian Freud’s work. Your love and admiration of art is always the through theme. Building up and bringing to light rather than criticism without giving grace. So, watching the stream of paintings I felt immersed in the compositions of flesh. Blues, taupes, reds, pinks- and I remembered the Pantone color of the year 2024. I’ve liked reading the analyst descriptions of some of the industry chosen colors, specifically what the color’s relationship is to society and culture at the time and as a reaction to the past. The color is beautiful and the paintings hold the same. Introducing Pantone Color of the Year 2024: PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz. A velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and heart.
I know you said you didn’t find the profundity you were looking for when you discovered Lucian didn’t have an intention beyond portraying what would be considered unconventional forms, but I think the lack of intention is in itself profound. Body positivity is about acceptance at the end of the day, the goal is for all bodies to be “normal”, for them to be perceived without pretense or baggage or expectation, and this video is a great step in that direction.
More and more as an artist I'm drawn to a practice of painting from life, without intentional meaning. I used to think hard about what my work says, the message, the symbolism, the place it occupies in doscourse- but I've come to trust that when I choose references that simply fascinate me, and get them onto canvas or board or paper by whatever method fascinates me, my philosophy will come out in the process, and be provocative on its own. I write fantasy, but really nothing is more fantastical than observation of what's right in front of us. And this is a practice of Buddhist mindfulness as well, and I think of anarchism. The ultimate secrets of the universe are right in front of you in the pebbles under your feet and leaf shifting in the wind- the path to political liberation is to empower the people you know. The revolutionary leader who will change the world is the person you cross paths with on the sidewalk on your way to work, the mandate of heaven is in you, and the kid crying on the bus, and the tired nurse, and the driver, and the path to enlightenment is the one you are *walking*. Forget what you paint, it only matters that you paint.
I often love your commentary about artists and their work. Painting is often only about painting. Does this this make it merely a craft? Not necessarily, it is up to those who view it to espouse it as art. I think it was Richard Diebenkorn who once said "calling yourself an artist is like a priest calling himself a saint." Painting is often just pigment, medium, application and composition. Lucien Freud is an artist!
If I remember correctly, did you do a video focusing on Courbet's painting "The Origin of the World"? Did it get taken down? Also great video as always.
