Print

1986-7 (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.

Though this has been listed as unique, there is at least one other proof in a private collection. Balakjian said he pulled three impressions of which two are still known to be extant. The print was never published.

The sitter has been identified as Celia Paul.

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read Lucian Freud and etching Lucian Freud (1922 – 2011) was one of the most renowned British artists of the 20th century. Though he is best known as a painter he was also a keen printmaker, producing versions of many of the subjects featured in his paintings – portrait heads, nudes, dogs and landscapes. These prints w...

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Etching on paper
Brief description
Lucian Freud: Trial proof of (Head of a Woman), 1986-7. Etching. Printed by Marc Balakjian.
Physical description
Head of a woman looking down
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 29.7cm
  • Plate width: 29.8cm
  • Sheet height: 57cm
  • Sheet width: 52.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
44 (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
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.

Though this has been listed as unique, there is at least one other proof in a private collection. Balakjian said he pulled three impressions of which two are still known to be extant. The print was never published.

The sitter has been identified as Celia Paul.
Collection
Accession number
E.440-2020

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Record createdFebruary 17, 2020
Record URL
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