Auerbach, Painter Who Fled Nazis, Dies

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Post on Nov 13, 2024

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Auerbach, Painter Who Fled Nazis, Dies at 90

London, UK - British painter Frank Auerbach, a renowned figurative artist known for his intensely textured and expressionistic portraits, has died at the age of 90. The news of his passing was confirmed by his family, who said he died peacefully at his home in London on October 25th, 2023.

Auerbach's life and art were deeply marked by his experiences escaping Nazi persecution in Germany. Born in Berlin in 1931, he fled to England with his family in 1939, just months before the outbreak of World War II. The trauma of displacement and the constant threat of violence left an indelible mark on his art, often expressed through his subjects' intense gazes and the raw emotionality of his brushstrokes.

After studying at the Borough Polytechnic Institute in London, Auerbach quickly developed a unique style, characterized by thick layers of paint, often applied with a palette knife, creating a palpable, almost sculptural surface. His subjects were primarily the people he knew, including his fellow artists, friends, and models, often portrayed in repetitive sittings, allowing him to capture the subtle changes in their features and expressions.

Despite the immediacy of his work, Auerbach's paintings were meticulously constructed, often revisiting the same subjects over many years, building up layers of paint that reflected both the passage of time and the evolving relationship between artist and sitter. He was known for his intense focus on the human figure, capturing not only their physical presence but also their inner lives and unspoken stories.

Auerbach's work has been exhibited widely, including retrospectives at Tate Modern and the Royal Academy of Arts in London, as well as major galleries in New York and Paris. He received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Turner Prize in 1999 and the Order of Merit in 2006.

His death marks a significant loss for the art world. His intensely personal and evocative paintings will continue to inspire generations of artists and viewers. His legacy is not only in the sheer power and beauty of his work, but also in the resilience and depth of his artistic vision, forged in the face of adversity.