Frank Auerbach

2024 - 11 - 12

Frank Auerbach: The Man Who Spared Us From Boring Portraits, Passes Away at 93!

Art History - British Artists - Emotional Portraits - Figurative Painting - Fleeing Nazis - Frank Auerbach - Modern Art - Soho Art Scene

The art world mourns the loss of Frank Auerbach, a master of modern portraiture and a poignant symbol of resilience!

The world of art is in mourning as we remember Frank Auerbach, the visionary British-German painter who passed away at the age of 93. Known for his innovative approach to figurative art, Auerbach's journey from war-torn Germany to becoming a leading figure in Britain's postwar art scene is as inspiring as the colourful chaos he painted. Auerbach's relentless brush strokes told stories of beauty and despair, encapsulating the very essence of the human experience in a way that transcended mere representation.

Born in Berlin in 1931, Auerbach fled the looming threat of Nazi Germany at the tender age of 8. His life in England began as a difficult transition, but the spirit of resilience converged with his artistic instincts. Auerbach quickly became a fixture in Soho's vibrant artistic community, mingling with contemporaries like Francis Bacon, and igniting a revolutionary change in how portraiture could convey profound psychological depth. His canvases pulsated with life, evoking emotions in viewers long after they had stepped away.

His relationship with actress Estella Olive West became particularly significant, marking a deep emotional investment that blurred the line between life and art. Auerbach’s depictions of West are celebrated hallmarks of his career, reflecting both his adoration and the complexity of the human condition through layers of paint that seemed alive on the canvas. One could say that while he escaped the physical shadows of his past, he boldly embraced the emotional contours that defined his legacy.

As we say goodbye to this iconic figure, we can take solace in the knowledge that his body of work will continue to inspire generations to come. Auerbach's artistic language is one that speaks not just through paint but through the indomitable human spirit. Interestingly, Auerbach became known for his unique approach to using paint, with some even suggesting his works were less about the subjects themselves and more about the energy surrounding them. Notably, his biggest influence continued to resonate through the hallways of modern art, where we can hear whispers of his techniques evolving beyond the 21st century.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Frank Auerbach, leading figurative painter who fled Nazis, dies aged ... (The Guardian)

Saved by a sponsorship that took him from Berlin to London as a child, the artist later fell in with Soho's artistic crowd including Francis Bacon and ...

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Image courtesy of "frieze.com"

German-British Painter Frank Auerbach Has Died Aged 93 (frieze.com)

The artist, who captured the beauty and anguish of the human experience, leaves behind a body of work that will resonate for generations to come.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Frank Auerbach, artist, 1931-2024 (Financial Times)

The painter escaped Nazi Germany to become one of the towering figures of British postwar art.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Frank Auerbach, British-German painter, dies at 93 (Aljazeera.com)

Auerbach came to England in 1939 as a child refugee after fleeing from Nazi Germany.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Frank Auerbach death: Famed painter who fled from Nazis dies ... (The Independent)

'A true giant is gone, but his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire and endure'

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Image courtesy of "Jewish Chronicle"

Leading British artist Frank Auerbach dies at 93 (Jewish Chronicle)

One of Britain's greatest modern artists, Frank Auerbach, who came here as a child refugee from Nazi Germany, has died at the age of 93.

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Image courtesy of "ARTnews"

Frank Auerbach Dead at 93: British Painter Redefined Portraiture (ARTnews)

Of Auerbach's art from the postwar era, his paintings of Estella Olive West, an actress with whom he led a longtime relationship, remain the most famous. E.O.W. ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Frank Auerbach: British-German painter dies aged 93 (BBC News)

Auerbach died peacefully at his home in London on Monday morning, his representatives confirmed.

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Image courtesy of "ArtReview"

Frank Auerbach, German-British Postwar Painter, 1931–2024 (ArtReview)

The artist remained focused on the pursuit of an 'impossible, perfect, fierce new image' throughout his 70-year career.

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Image courtesy of "Ocula Magazine"

Frank Auerbach, Paint-bending Portraitist, Dies at 93 (Ocula Magazine)

Striving for deeper meaning in his portraits of close friends, Auerbach is best known for instinctively guiding thick swirls of paint in his works.

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Image courtesy of "Jewish Chronicle"

Obituary: Frank Auerbach (Jewish Chronicle)

A Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, he was often compared to Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud in terms of the revolutionary and powerful nature of his work. His ...

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Image courtesy of "Art Newspaper"

Remembering Frank Auerbach, one of the leading artists of his ... (Art Newspaper)

The German-born British painter, a leading figure in the School of London, produced some of the most enduring and perceptive observations of what it meant ...

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