Artwork
Self-Portrait: Reflection
Self-Portrait: Reflection is a print by Lucian Freud. It dates from 1996 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The story behind its creation is interesting - Freud worked closely with his printer to get the effect just right.
This print is a self-portrait by Lucian Freud.
It was created in 1996.
The story behind its creation is interesting - Freud worked closely with his printer to get the effect just right.
He was pleased with a chance discovery - a mottled texture that suggested the weave of a shirt.
This happened when the printer had half-wiped the ink from the plate.
The result was what Freud wanted - a dark print with a special texture.
To learn more about the techniques used, look up chiaroscuro.
Overview
Self‑Portrait: Reflection is a 1996 print by Lucian Freud, part of a series of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs produced at Studio Prints. The work belongs to the collection formerly held by Marc Balakjian, Freud’s long‑term printer, and exemplifies the collaborative process between artist and printer during the late 1990s.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents Freud’s own likeness, rendered with a stark tonal range that emphasizes the physicality of his shoulders, shirt, and face. The deliberate darkness and textured surface convey a sense of introspection, aligning with Freud’s broader interest in the unflinching observation of the human form.
Technique & Style
The copper plate was bitten on 30 August 1996. To achieve a dark, mottled surface, Balakjian partially wiped ink from the shoulder and facial areas, creating a pattern reminiscent of woven fabric. This semi‑monoprint approach left varying amounts of ink on each impression, resulting in subtle differences across the edition while preserving the overall chiaroscuro effect.
History & Provenance
The proof belongs to the series of state, trial and cancellation prints that Balakjian produced for Freud from 1985 onward. After Balakjian’s death in 2017, the collection of these prints, including this cancellation proof (catalogued as E.317‑2020), entered the market and has been documented in several auction records.
Context
Freud’s collaboration with Balakjian reflects a period in which the artist revisited printmaking to explore texture and tonal depth. The accidental discovery of the half‑wiped ink technique occurred during a routine inking session at Studio Prints, illustrating the experimental nature of their partnership.
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.
