1997 (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 was recorded as a unique impression, there is at least one other impression in a private collection. The print was never published. The composition is very close to the painting Armchair by the Fireplace, 1997 (private collection), a portrait of an armchair in his studio. Freud was disappointed with the print when he saw the first proof. He told William Feaver that 'it's just no good; a hundred hours gone in the bin...It looked so good on the plate. But then it looked illustrative.' [Quoted in Feaver, 2020, pp.342-3].
Though this was recorded as a unique impression, there is at least one other impression in a private collection. The print was never published. The composition is very close to the painting Armchair by the Fireplace, 1997 (private collection), a portrait of an armchair in his studio. Freud was disappointed with the print when he saw the first proof. He told William Feaver that 'it's just no good; a hundred hours gone in the bin...It looked so good on the plate. But then it looked illustrative.' [Quoted in Feaver, 2020, pp.342-3].
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Lucian Freud: Trial proof of (Armchair), 1997. Unique impression. Etching. Printed by Marc Balakjian. |
| Physical description | A battered armchair on bare floorboards, with a fireplace in the background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 45 1st state. 19 May 97 (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 was recorded as a unique impression, there is at least one other impression in a private collection. The print was never published. The composition is very close to the painting Armchair by the Fireplace, 1997 (private collection), a portrait of an armchair in his studio. Freud was disappointed with the print when he saw the first proof. He told William Feaver that 'it's just no good; a hundred hours gone in the bin...It looked so good on the plate. But then it looked illustrative.' [Quoted in Feaver, 2020, pp.342-3]. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.441-2020 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2020 |
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