Artwork
After Chardin
After Chardin is a print by Lucian Freud. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Lucian Freud made this print in 2000. It’s an etching on paper, based on a painting by another artist.
Freud kept a copy of Chardin’s painting *The Young Schoolmistress* in his studio for years. He even chose it twice for big London shows. His prints change Chardin’s scene in small ways.
This print sits at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This etching, created by Lucian Freud in 2000, is one of a group of proofs from his printmaking endeavors. It is based on Jean-Simeon Chardin's 'The Young Schoolmistress', a painting from around 1737.
Subject & Meaning
Freud's print reinterprets Chardin's composition, cropping and simplifying the original scene. He made multiple alterations in his paintings and etchings based on 'The Young Schoolmistress', indicating a deep engagement with the work.
Technique & Style
The etching is notable for its tonal range, achieved through experimentation by Freud's printer, Marc Balakjian. A uniform, dark tone was ultimately chosen to balance the contrasts in the plate, resulting in a distinctive visual effect.
History & Provenance
This print is part of a collection of 143 proofs that originated from Marc Balakjian's Studio Prints. Balakjian worked closely with Freud from 1985, collaborating on the production of his etchings. The print is now held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucian Michael Freud (; 8 December 1922 – 20 July 2011) was a British painter and draughtsman, specialising in figurative art, who is known as one of the foremost 20th-century English portraitists.
