Artwork
Head of a Naked Girl
Head of a Naked Girl 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
Overview
This print is one of 143 trial and cancellation proofs from Lucian Freud’s etching series, originally held by Marc Balakjian, his long-time printmaker.
This print is one of 143 trial and cancellation proofs from Lucian Freud’s etching series, originally held by Marc Balakjian, his long-time printmaker. Balakjian, who collaborated with Freud from 1985 onward, produced these proofs during the iterative process of refining the image. The work belongs to a private collection of studio materials that document Freud’s meticulous approach to printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is Nicola-Rose O'Hara, a model who posed for Freud during the mid-1990s. The portrait captures her head and shoulders without clothing, rendered with unflinching directness. Freud’s focus on the physical presence of the figure, devoid of narrative or symbolism, reflects his interest in the body as a tangible, lived reality rather than an idealized form.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the work shows Freud’s characteristic use of fine, incised lines to build texture and volume. The surface is densely worked, with layered burin marks creating a sense of weight and skin’s tactile quality. The absence of background isolates the figure, emphasizing the intensity of the gaze and the anatomical precision of the rendering.
History & Provenance
The print originated in Freud’s studio during the production of a series of portraits of Nicola-Rose O'Hara. It was retained by Marc Balakjian, who served as Freud’s primary printer and maintained a comprehensive archive of trial states and cancellations. These proofs were later cataloged as part of Balakjian’s personal collection, preserving the evolution of the image.
Context
This etching was made during a period when Freud was increasingly focused on intimate, unadorned portraiture across media. His printmaking practice, though less public than his paintings, was deeply intertwined with his studio process. The collaboration with Balakjian allowed Freud to explore subtle tonal variations and surface effects not always possible in oil.
Legacy
The survival of these trial proofs offers insight into Freud’s working method, revealing how he refined compositions through incremental changes. As part of Balakjian’s archive, this print contributes to the scholarly understanding of Freud’s printmaking, illustrating the discipline and patience underpinning his approach to representation.
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.
