1960 –
Age of Post-Colonialism

Lucian Freud, Standing by the Rags, 1988-89

Lucian Freud, Standing by the Rags, oil on canvas, 66.5 x 54.5 in. (168.9 x 138.4 cm),
1988-89 (Tate Britain, London)

Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker

Your Comments (3)

Previous Comments

Shea Lacombe wrote on Thursday, March 10, 2011

This work by Freud is very psychological and awkward. Not only is the figure painted with incorrect proprtions but the figure feels as though she is floating or laying on the rags. This gives the work a dream like quality.

judith gait wrote on Saturday, December 01, 2012

Thank you for your perceptive and enlightening comments. This will be a good resource for my students.

Tanya Lupo wrote on Tuesday, March 05, 2013

I have always admired Lucian Freud’s work. This piece speaks perfectly to the directness of Freud’s paintings and his aggressive approach to the nude. I think this speaks to a deep psychological awareness as the obvious distortion and skin tones are suggestive of a gross realism. Freud is not afraid to challenge the tradition of the nude, and through this I feel he is commenting on these past idealized representations.

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Where and When

Lucian Freud, Standing by the Rags, 1988-89
London, UK
1988-89

Check this out as well

This painting at the Tate Britain

Tate Britain's Chronology

Video from 4oD Documentaries

Four BBC interviews (audio)

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