Naked Man on a Bed
Print
1987 (printed)
1987 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of a group of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs of etchings by Lucian Freud (1922-2011) which came from the collection of Marc Balakjian (1938-2017) of Studio Prints. Balakjian was Freud’s printer from 1985 and worked closely with him on the production of his etchings.
This is the second state (unpublished) of Naked Man on a Bed, 1987, published in an edition of 10. The published print shows the naked figure isolated on a white ground; after the 10 impressions were pulled, Freud decided to continue working on the plate, and filled in the background with details of the bed and its coverings, and the view of the studio space beyond with a pile of rags on the floor. He also added shading to the figure's shoulder, upper arm, and knees, and detail to the outer and inner thigh. According to Marc Balakjian he was dissatisfied with the drawing and decided not to publish this state. There is a printer's proof, and three trial proofs extant, of which this is one. For this proof, Balakjian used brown-black ink.
The sitter is Angus Cook, one of Freud's principal models at this time.
This is the second state (unpublished) of Naked Man on a Bed, 1987, published in an edition of 10. The published print shows the naked figure isolated on a white ground; after the 10 impressions were pulled, Freud decided to continue working on the plate, and filled in the background with details of the bed and its coverings, and the view of the studio space beyond with a pile of rags on the floor. He also added shading to the figure's shoulder, upper arm, and knees, and detail to the outer and inner thigh. According to Marc Balakjian he was dissatisfied with the drawing and decided not to publish this state. There is a printer's proof, and three trial proofs extant, of which this is one. For this proof, Balakjian used brown-black ink.
The sitter is Angus Cook, one of Freud's principal models at this time.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Naked Man on a Bed (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Lucian Freud: Trial proof of Naked Man on a Bed, 1987. Etching. Printed by Marc Balakjian. |
| Physical description | Naked man on a bed with floorboards and rags visible behind. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 2A 2nd state Trial proof (In pencil; by Marc Balakjian) |
| Credit line | Accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by HM Government in 2019 from the collection of Marc Balakjian and allocated to the V&A |
| Production | This is one of three proofs of the second (final) state. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of a group of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs of etchings by Lucian Freud (1922-2011) which came from the collection of Marc Balakjian (1938-2017) of Studio Prints. Balakjian was Freud’s printer from 1985 and worked closely with him on the production of his etchings. This is the second state (unpublished) of Naked Man on a Bed, 1987, published in an edition of 10. The published print shows the naked figure isolated on a white ground; after the 10 impressions were pulled, Freud decided to continue working on the plate, and filled in the background with details of the bed and its coverings, and the view of the studio space beyond with a pile of rags on the floor. He also added shading to the figure's shoulder, upper arm, and knees, and detail to the outer and inner thigh. According to Marc Balakjian he was dissatisfied with the drawing and decided not to publish this state. There is a printer's proof, and three trial proofs extant, of which this is one. For this proof, Balakjian used brown-black ink. The sitter is Angus Cook, one of Freud's principal models at this time. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.318-2020 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2020 |
| Record URL |
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