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Small Head

Print
c.1988 (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 are two other extant proofs. The print was never published. It was described by Christies as Untitled (Small Head of Ib) but has since been identified in 'Lucian Freud: Catalogue Raisonne of the Prints' (Modern Art Press, 2022) as a head of Susanna Chancellor.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSmall Head (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Etching on paper
Brief description
Lucian Freud: Trial proof of Small Head (portrait of Susanna Chancellor), c.1988. Etching. Printed by Marc Balakjian.
Physical description
Head of a woman looking to the right and down.
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 19.6cm
  • Plate width: 14.7cm
  • Sheet height: 47.2cm
  • Sheet width: 40.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
46 (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 are two other extant proofs. The print was never published. It was described by Christies as Untitled (Small Head of Ib) but has since been identified in 'Lucian Freud: Catalogue Raisonne of the Prints' (Modern Art Press, 2022) as a head of Susanna Chancellor.
Collection
Accession number
E.442-2020

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Record createdFebruary 17, 2020
Record URL
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