Frank Auerbach, Renowned Painter, Dead

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Post on Nov 13, 2024

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Frank Auerbach, Renowned Painter, Dead at 94

LONDON - Frank Auerbach, the renowned British painter known for his intensely expressive portraits and landscapes, died on October 13, 2023, at the age of 94. His passing marks the loss of one of the most significant figures in contemporary art, a painter whose work resonated with a raw, visceral honesty that transcended generations.

Auerbach, born in Berlin in 1931, fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1939. He settled in London and studied at the Borough Polytechnic Institute, where he first encountered the principles of figurative painting. His early works displayed a bold, gestural style, influenced by the Expressionist tradition and the teachings of his mentor, William Coldstream.

Auerbach's unique approach to painting became instantly recognizable: thick, impastoed layers of oil paint applied with a palette knife, capturing the raw energy and physicality of his subjects. He often painted the same sitters, including his wife, Julia, and close friend, the poet, E.J. Thribb, for decades, creating an intimate portrait of their lives and transformations.

His landscapes, similarly, were imbued with a sense of place and time, capturing the ever-changing cityscape of London, particularly his beloved Camden Town. Each stroke, each scrape of the palette knife, became a testament to the passage of time and the inherent beauty of the mundane.

Despite early critical acclaim, Auerbach's work remained a niche interest for much of his career. It wasn't until the late 1990s and early 2000s that his reputation truly exploded, gaining international recognition and commanding high prices at auction.

He remained prolific throughout his life, exhibiting regularly and receiving numerous awards and accolades, including a CBE in 2000 and the prestigious Turner Prize in 1998.

Frank Auerbach’s art was not merely about capturing a likeness, but about capturing the essence of the human experience – the vulnerability, the resilience, and the beauty that lies within the everyday. His loss is deeply felt by the art world, but his legacy as a master of figuration and a painter of profound truth will live on in the powerful and unforgettable imagery he created.